Santa and Christmas

Yule Ball

2008-08-05T23:16:00.000Z

Yule Ball

Yule Ball

The custom of having a Yule Ball has existed in different forms over many years. From the eighteenth century the Southern states of the United States held balls during the Christmas Season. The Texans celebrated with Christmas Eve Balls. The English celebrated the Twelfth Night of Christmas with a Costume or Mask Ball until the nineteenth century. More commonly now people celebrate New Years Eve with a Yule Ball.

Recently the 'Yule Ball' was made popular in the Harry Potter book and movie 'The Goblet of Fire', Chapter 23 is 'The Yule Ball'. The main event of this chapter, as indicated by the title, is the Yule Ball itself. During the ball, Harry learns things about several of his close friends, including Hagrid, Hermione and Ron. In the film, the Ball was presented as sort of a "wizard prom", with the dress robes of men resembling tuxedos.

The Yule Ball is know for Ron Weasley's row with Hermione Granger which divulged Ron's jealousy towards Krum, and showing his attraction to Hermione. Fans refer to the event as 'the Yule Brawl'.

Christmas Carols

2008-08-05T06:52:00.000Z

Christmas Carols

Approximate Dates of Carols

The 16th Century

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The First Nowell
The Twelve Days of Christmas

The 18th Century

We Wish You a Merry Christmas
The Holly and the Ivy
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
O Come All Ye Faithful

The 19th Century

Silent Night, Holy Night
Once in Royal David’s City
Good King Wenceslas
We Three Kings of Orient Are
Jingle Bells
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Away in a Manger
Ding Dong Merrily on High

12 Days Of Christmas

2008-08-04T03:50:00.000Z

12 Days Of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

For many centuries the Twelve days of Christmas stood at the heart of the European Christmas season. The Twelve Days of Christmas is also referred to as 'Christmastide'. The Twelve days begin on December 25 and last until the Twelfth Night (January 5th).

As Christianity became firmly rooted in Europe, political leaders declared the Twelve Days to be legal holidays. Near the end of the ninth century King Alfred the Great of England (849-899) mandated that his subjects observe the Twelve days of Christmas, outlawing all legal proceedings, work and fighting during that time. Norway established the Christian observance of the festival in the middle of the 10th century.

The most festive meal was often served on the Twelfth Night or on Epiphany (6 January).

There were numerous superstitions around the Twelve Days of Christmas. One was that Christmas decorations were to only be displayed over the twelve days and that bad luck would come to those who left them up longer. Another view was that Christmas decorations could be left up as long as they were removed by Candlemas (2 February).

And then we have the words from the song regularly song around Christmas time…

The Twelve days of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the third day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fourth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the fifth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the sixth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the seventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eighth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the ninth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the tenth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Eleven Pipers Piping
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
12 Drummers Drumming
Eleven Pipers Piping
Ten Lords a Leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids a Milking
Seven Swans a Swimming
Six Geese a Laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Blue Christmas

2008-08-03T07:30:00.000Z

Blue Christmas

Blue Christmas

One reference to 'Blue Christmas' is that for some Christmas is a lonely, depressing, "blue" time. Christmas can be 'blue' for those people who are grieving the loss of loved ones or other losses or for those who are all alone when others are partying and gathering with family members. Some pastors concerned for those who find it difficult to "celebrate" at this time of year have developed various "Blue Christmas Services" for these people.

The constant refrain on radio and television, in shopping malls and churches, about the happiness of the Christmas Season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many people of what they have lost or have never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation, the gut wrenching loss of a child, the loneliness of no longer having a beloved spouse to share each day, the loss of a dear family pet - all these can contribute to a feeling of being alone, of 'feeling blue' in the midst of the society around us which seems bent on 'being happy' and 'celebrating'. It's at such times that we need to make the space and take the time to acknowledge our sadness and concern. The churches offer the 'Blue Christmas' service to help these people and offer them some empathy.

Then there is the song 'Blue Christmas'...

I'll have a Blue Christmas without you
I'll be so blue thinking about you
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won't mean a thing if you're not here with me.

I'll have a Blue Christmas that's certain
And when that blue heartache starts hurtin'
You'll be doin' all right, with your Christmas of white
But I'll have a blue, blue Christmas.

Mistletoe

2008-08-02T03:02:00.000Z

Mistletoe

Mistletoe

The mistletoe was a symbol of goodwill and love, an omen of long life, fertility and happiness for those who kissed beneath it. Named 'All-heal', mistletoe was accepted by the Church who proclaimed it a symbol of Christ, the divine healer.

The Druids called mistletoe 'omnia sanitatem' which means 'that which heals all'. They used it as a medicine. It was also believed to heal hearts and it was believed that if two enemies met under a tree bearing mistletoe, they were not allowed to fight. Anyone entering a home decorated with sprigs of mistletoe was entitled to receive shelter and protection. Some people thought that mistletoe possessed magical powers and others thought of in a negative vein.

Mistletoe, also known as viscum album, is an evergreen that bears berries and is thought of in association to Christmas. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe appears to be of English origin. It is not until the eighteenth century that some writers suggest that kissing under the mistletoe was common place. There were contradictory beliefs about the custom of kissing under the mistletoe.

Today, many people enhance their Christmas festivities with mischievous sprigs of mistletoe. The custom is found in Britain, France or countries where the British have settled, such as Commonwealth countries, including Canada and it is also found in the United States...

A branch of the mystic mistletoe is suspended from the wall or ceiling and anyone of the fair sex who, either from inadvertence, or possible may be insinuated, on PURPOSE, passes beneath the sacred spray, incurs the penalty of being then and there kissed by any lord of creation who chooses to avail himself of the privilege.
Chamber’s Book of Days (1864)

Xmas

2008-08-01T13:38:00.000Z

Xmas

Xmas

X is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ - 'Xristos'. To the early Christians, most of whom spoke and wrote Greek, the word signified 'Christ's Mass'.

As the centuries passed, however, fewer and fewer people understood ancient Greek. They thought the 'X' had some pagan meaning and that the word 'Xmas' showed disrespect. Some people dislike the informality of this abbreviation and the fact that it removes the word "Christ" from the word Christmas. Others find it less objectionable. They point out that the "X"stands for the Greek letter "X" (chi), which is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ.

The occasionally felt belief that the "X" represents the cross Christ was crucified on has no basis in fact. The St Andrew's Cross is X-shaped, but Christ's cross was probably shaped like a T or a †. Indeed, X-as-chi was associated with Christ long before X-as-cross could be, since the cross as a Christian symbol developed later. (The Greek letter Chi Χ stood for "Christ").

Hanukah Christmas Cards

2008-07-31T05:53:00.000Z

Hanukah Christmas Cards

Hanukkah Christmas Cards

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival and falls during the darkest days of December. It is not the Jewish Christmas but many American Jewish families have adapted certain Christmas customs, for example cards and gifts. The Hanukkah holidays fall on different days between 25th November and 26th December each year. It is a movable feast similar to the Christian Easter. It is a celebration of light. The Hebrew word Hanukkah means "dedication". The Hanukkah holiday is known as the 'Feast of Dedication' or the 'Feast of Light'.

The Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days in memory of the Maccabeean uprising and the Temple miracle in Jerusalem. One candle is lit on each night of Hanukkah and there is a special ninth candle called the shammas, or servant light - the one light able to kindle many.

The old custom of distributing Hanukkah gelt (coins) to children has extended to gifts. Often Jewish parents give their children a present for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. In addition, some people also exchange Hanukkah Cards with friends and family.

Christmas Cards

2008-07-30T12:38:00.000Z

Christmas Cards

Christmas Cards

The English are credited with the invention of the Christmas card and with making it popular during the Victorian era. By the 1860's an entire industry had grown up around the design and production of Christmas Cards in England. The industry spread to other countries quickly and more and more people embraced the Christmas card. The practice of sending Christmas Greeting Cards became one of the Christmas season's most popular customs.

New Year's cards date back to the early years of European printing. The oldest known New Year's card was printed in 1466. They never became very popular. In the late eighteenth century the development of lithographic printing supported an increase in the production of New Year's cards. Valentines cards were already popular in the early nineteenth century when the very first Christmas cards were printed and probably had more influence on the Christmas Cards than the New Year's cards did. Prior to the Christmas cards, some people did send Christmas or New Year's letters.

The first Christmas card was designed by Englishman JC Horsley (1817-1903) in 1843 from the research that I can find. The front of the card shows three separate images. About 1000 copies of the card were printed and they were sold for one shilling each.

Christmas Lawn Decorations

2008-07-29T06:33:00.000Z

Christmas Lawn Decorations

Using Christmas Lawn Decorations To Celebrate The Season

By Michelle Bery
Most of us can tell the tale of driving by a particular house every season just to see what new Christmas lawn decorations they have added to their vast and brightly lit collection. Reindeers, Santas of every size and shape, sleighs, snowmen, and every other conceivable holiday reference affixed and aglow on the lawn of one of our more enterprising neighbors.

Christmas lawn decorations have become part an integral part of the season, alerting everyone to the level of holiday spirit that exists in that particular home. And in some cases it becomes something of a neighborhood competition – who has the most decorations, the biggest Santa, the most lights. But, ultimately, the best Christmas lawn decorations are the ones that best represent your personal idea about the holidays.

First and foremost, keep the size of your particular lawn in mind when planning your Christmas lawn decorations. Cramming too many decorative items into too small a space will only serve to make your lawn look junky instead of festive. You want to delight those who view your home, not blind them with lights. In this case, several smaller Christmas lawn decorations may do the trick. Space them out so that you can appreciate what you are seeing.

Also keep in mind when planning Christmas lawn decorations that the weather does affect certain materials. Plan your Christmas lawn decorations with an eye towards your climate and temperature and moisture restrictions on the decorations you purchase.

If space isn’t an issue on your property, then plan your Christmas lawn decorations accordingly. Perhaps do several groupings of different types of Christmas lawn decorations. Have Santa, his reindeer, and sleigh front and center, some snowmen on one side, and elves on the other. Add visual interest to every grouping so that each tells its own story.

At the end of the holidays, be sure to pack away your Christmas lawn decorations with care. Be sure they are completely dry before packing them so that no mold is allowed to grow over the year. Once dry, fold and package in airtight containers and store in a temperature controlled space. If you take care of your Christmas lawn decorations, they will give you a lifetime of enjoyment.

Regardless of the type of Christmas lawn decorations you choose, plan your decorations thoroughly and celebrate the season in a way that is uniquely you.

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Christmas Tree Decorations

2008-07-28T10:00:00.000Z

Christmas Tree Decorations

Christmas Tree Decorations Ideas

By Rob Buenaventura
If you are looking for trendy innovative ways to decorate for Christmas, you’ve come to the right place.

You could start the decorating off on the trendy foot by opting for an upside down Christmas tree. You did hear correctly these trees are widely available and are designed after a pagan tradition in which trees were nailed to the ceilings of home upside down. This works better with artificial trees rather than real trees, as artificial trees need a steady supply of water to their roots. Just be sure to hang the tree out of the way so that it doesn’t invade ‘head space’ within the room.

Another great trend in Christmas decorating is to use ribbons rather than traditional balls and globes on your tree. There are so many options when it comes to using ribbons on your Christmas tree. You can opt for the multicolored or plaid ribbons in traditional Christmas colors or you can go with solid ribbons and use two contrasting colors on your tree (burgundy and gold works well) in traditional Christmas colors or going out on a limb and opting for colors that might not necessarily be considered Christmas colors. Of course some people are using ribbons in order to hang their balls and globes on the tree for another taste of something different.

If you are still looking for something new and innovative for your Christmas tree trying putting something other than a star or an angel on top of your tree. Some great ideas for this would be Barbie dolls, floral bouquets, even Teddy bears. Use your imagination and choose something that reflects your family and personal style.

Yes another wonderful Christmas tree decorating idea, and perhaps my personal favorite, is to make your tree look as natural as possibly by using pine cones, fruits, nuts, and natural looking birds, animals, and plants, rather than the traditional tinsel, balls, and blinking lights.

Unless you are aiming for a retro looking tree, go with smaller bulbs rather than larger bulbs for your lights. Many people are also opting for one color or white bulbs rather than the traditional multi colored strings of lights. Of course, the choice is entirely a matter of preference and you should go with lights and decorations that are sentimental and indicative of the Christmas season for you.

If you want your tree to be a throwback to the disco days of the seventies, then you should consider one of the artificial white Christmas trees. These trees are indeed quite retro and for some are an absolutely fun way to celebrate their favorite holiday.

Another great thing to remember about Christmas decorating is that it shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. There are plenty of discount outlets online from which you can purchase your ornaments and decorations. You should also take a moment or two in which to stroll the aisles of your local dollar store to see the decorating gems they sometimes have to offer.

Rob Buenaventura is a successful webmaster and publisher of GetChristmasShopping. He provides tips on [http://www.getchristmasshopping.com]Xmas decoration ideas, unique xmas gifts, and other Christmas ideas. For [http://www.getchristmasshopping.com/Unique-Christmas-Tree-Themes.html]unique Christmas Tree theme ideas, check out [http://www.getchristmasshopping.com]www.getchristmasshopping.com

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Christmas Bells

2008-07-28T06:09:00.000Z

Christmas Bells

Christmas Bells

Bells have been associated with Christmas for many years. In parts of England there is a tradition of "ringing in" Christmas. In Scandinavia bells are rung to announce the end of work and the beginning of the festive season. The sound of bells has been associated with gift-bearers arriving. St Nicholas has been known to carry a hand bell on his visits. In Italy the Befans rings a bell as she descends the chimneys. In Hungary angel bells are rung to announce that children's presents have been delivered.

People will easily associate with carols like 'Jingle Bells', 'Silver Bells' and 'I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day'. The bell shape is linked strongly with Christmas and regularly seen on Christmas Cards, Christmas wrap and Christmas tree decorations...

White Christmas

2008-07-23T23:02:00.000Z

White Christmas

White Christmas

'White Christmas' is a 1940 Irving Berlin tune, it is the biggest-selling Christmas song. It has sold over 100,000,000 copies. Bing Crosby sang 'White Christmas' and this version sold over 31,000,000 copies. 'White Christmas' won the Oscar award for best song of 1942...

When people think of 'White Christmas', most would probably think of the well known song that Bing Crosby made the most popular version of.

Back in 1914 a new type of service was introduced into some Protestant Sunday Schools. The 'White Christmas' service encouraged children to bring gifts for the needy. To this day the tradition continues. People collect canned food, toys and money to help the poor enjoy Christmas a little more. The custom was to wrap the gifts in white paper and some churches referred to the service as 'White Gift Sunday'...

Christmas Carols

2008-07-23T08:43:00.000Z

Christmas Carols

O Come All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angles!

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Sing choirs of angles;
Sing in exultation
Sing all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God –
In the highest.

Chorus

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be the glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in the flesh appearing.

Chorus.

A Christmas Story

2008-07-21T22:26:00.000Z

A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story is a comedy movie directed in 1983 by Bob Clark. The story is about a boys wish for an air rifle. He wants a genuine Red Ryder Carbine Action Two Hundred Shot Lightning Loader Range Model air rifle with a shock proof high adventure combination trail compass and sundial set in the stock of the rifle.

The film stars Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker, Darren McGavin as his father and Melinda Dillon as his mother. Jean Shepherd based the story on a chapter in his book 'In God We Trust - All Others pay Cash' and is the narrator in the movie...

Silent Night

2008-07-20T22:46:00.000Z

Silent Night

Silent Night, Holy Night

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born.

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, Love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus Lord, at the birth.

Artificial Christmas Trees

2008-07-20T10:09:00.000Z

Artificial Christmas Trees

The Style Over The Ages Of Artificial Christmas Trees

By Jon Kelly
Artificial Christmas trees have been used during the festive season for decades. The design of these Christmas icons has seen them develop from basic structures to modern complex designs which reflect the current era. The original artificial Christmas trees were constructed from feathers such as duck and goose, which were dyed green to resemble the pine needles and attached to wooden sticks to look like the branches. The appeal of these original basic feather trees has come back into fashion and is increasingly popular. The current feather trees have a greater variety of colours to choose from, anything from silver to red.

When artificial tree were initially massed produced companies that made brushes saw that this could be a product they could manufacture so they used similar methods of production as their brushes with the bristles made to look like the needles of the trees. Today the modern bristle equivalent will be made from plastic and come in an assortment of colours and sizes to fit in with any persons taste. However, Each year new varieties and variation on a common theme pop up with artificial trees , which always raises a smile to see how ingeniously people are at producing new amusing trends in the hope that these will be bring about more merriment.

Metallic Trees

The original wooden Christmas trees were superseded by metallic ones in the later part of the 1950's. These often came in other colours besides green with the assumption that beautiful Christmas decor did not necessarily have to reflect tradition. The original materials used in making these metallic Christmas trees in the 1950's did not take into account, health and safety, and were often made from highly flammable materials. This made it highly hazardous to place lights on them as they had a tendency to burst into flames. To work around this flood lights were used to light up these trees. Today the modern equivalent of the metal trees are the tinsel trees which are constructed with fire retardant chemicals, which makes using strings of lights on them relatively safe.

During the last ten years artificial Christmas trees often come with strings of lights attached. This leaves the frustration of having to deal with blow bulbs and the chore of having to decorate the tree every Christmas time. The more complex Christmas trees have fibre optics built into them, thus enabling the tree to light up and change colours. These are very well received, due to their convenience and beauty.

One of the most recent developments in artificial trees as seen an unusual trend appear for the upside down Christmas tree. They can either be hung from the ceiling or placed in a stand on the floor. One of the great advantages of these trees is that the decorations can be kept away from the prying fingers of small children, because they can be hung at a greater height The other benefit is the amount of room underneath these trees allows more room for the presents, which in turn creates a more interesting focus for your living room.

So it can be seen that Artificial Christmas trees have many opportunities and advantages to the traditional trees with the diversity of colours and shapes. The durability enables it to be reused for many years to come and you don't have the bother of having to pick up the pine needles when Christmas is over. This explains some of the reasons why artificial trees are increasingly popular in homes who do not want to be bothered with the hassle of the traditional trees.

Jon Kelly is a published author who writes articles on a variety of diverse subjects. This includes articles about Christmas and Christmas decorations. If you would like to get more information and ideas about [http://www.greatchristmastime.com ]Christmas Time. Please visit: http://www.greatchristmastime.com

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Secret Santa

2008-05-15T12:20:00.000Z

Secret Santa

A Secret Santa Gift Idea - 25 Surreptitous Holiday Gifts

By Melanie Farkas
Just this past year, I needed a Secret Santa gift idea when my husband's family tried out a form of the Secret Santa gift exchange. In the end, we did reveal our identities to each other, so the secrets were out. It turned out to be a fun way to exchange gifts because I put all my energy into finding a special gift for one person, instead of scrambling to come up with a gift for every family member. The way we did it, we each put our name on a slip of paper and every person drew one of the papers out of a bag. Whatever name you drew, you became that person's Secret Santa. As most people do, we set a low price limit and everyone pretty much stuck to it. We all saved money and everyone got a nice gift!

The 25 Secret Santa gift ideas I have listed are good for co-workers, family, small groups, school mates or any group. They cost between five to twenty dollars. Have fun with your Secret Santa gift exchange!

1. Deck of cards and book of card game rules

2. Set of Gel pens and stationary

3. A Bulb with instructions how to force blooming

4. Holiday serving bowl or platter

5. Decorative napkins and napkin rings

6. Fancy chocolate bars tied with a ribbon (try some from other countries)

7. Makeup brush set or beard trimmer

8. Photo album

9. A Holiday Childrens' Story

10. Special soaps and bath puff or natural sponge

11. Colorful Post-It notepads

12. Pretty glass jar or small toolbox filled with candy

13. Picture frames

14. Set of dish towels and dish cloths

15. Note cards and book of stamps

16. Nail polish kit

17. Night shirt or pajamas

18. Basket filled with kitchen gadgets

19. Video rental gift certificates

20. Disposable camera

21. Address book

22. Prepaid long distance phone cards

23. Small clock or radio

24. Pretty box for keepsakes

25. Last, but not least: home baked cookies or logs of frozen unbaked cookie dough!

Melanie Farkas is the Holiday Gift Lady. She has gift ideas from all over the world at her website [http://www.uniqueholidaygiftideas.com/]www.uniqueholidaygiftideas.com
You can find many more Christmas gift ideas on her [http://www.uniqueholidaygiftideas.com/great-christmas-gift-idea.html]Great Christmas Gift Ideas page.

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Santas Secrets

2008-05-05T22:49:00.000Z

Santas Secrets

Six Secret Santa Rules to Make This Year's Secret Santa the Best Ever

By Mitch Mueller
Make sure this year's Secret Santa gift exchange is the best ever by following four cardinal rules of gift exchanges.

Whether you call it Secret Santa, Kris Kringle, White Elephant or just plain old 'gift exchange,' there's no doubt that holiday season anonymous gift exchanges are a favorite holiday tradition. Why? Simply because they are a sure-fire way to spice up holiday parties and bring groups together around gift giving.

While known by the name Secret Santa in the U.S. and Great Britain, the ritual is also known under Kris Kindle and Kris Kringle in Australia and New Zealand. The phrase 'Secret Santa' can refer both to the game or to any of the people participating. White Elephant is a very popular variation on the game.

Whether for office or home, church or school, here are four cardinal rules to make sure this year's Secret Santa a happy boost to your group's holiday spirit:

Start early. Don't set up your Secret Santa group and game at the last minute. Give people time to find thoughtful gifts. The first week after Thanksgiving is a great time to set your group up - this is a time when thoughts are already turning to Christmas.

Get people excited! Announce the Secret Santa program with enthusiasm and salesmanship... remind people that the whole point is to get laughs when the gifts are opened.

Make participation optional. Especially in workplace settings, give folks a pep talk to sign up, but also give them the room to opt out. Not every one is comfortable with this holiday ritual.

Be clear on cash limits. The whole idea is to give gifts that spark fun, not that cost a lot. Dollar limits on gift giving are almost always a good idea - not only do they make sure everyone can afford their role as Secret Santa, but they help inspire creativity - usually, the lower the dollar amount, the higher the creativity index!

Ensure gifts are appropriate. Find a way to gently remind folks that all gifts must be appropriate to your group. A common faux pas at many office Christmas parties is the secret santa gift that's a sexy lingerie or sex item that causes embarrassment to the recipient. If necessary, have a 'referee' who knows the identity of every Secret Santa so there is accountability on this score.

Consider White Elephant. Stir up enthusiasm by changing the format a bit this year! White Elephant, also known as Thieving Secret Santa, in this variation the gifts brought should be suitable for anyone in the group, and they should be wrapped in a fashion to disguise what they might be. Gift giver identities should be anonymous as well. Players take turns choosing and opening a gift, or, instead of opening one, they can 'steal' a previously opened gift.

Start planning now and have a great Secret Santa this year!

Mitch Mueller recommends using [http://www.keepandshare.com/htm/wish_list/secret_santa/best_secret_santa.php]Secret Santa List, [http://www.keepandshare.com/htm/wish_list/christmas_wish_list.php]Christmas Wish List, and [http://www.keepandshare.com/htm/wish_list/white_elephant/best_white_elephant.php]White Elephant Gift Exchange

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Prelit Christmas Trees

2008-05-05T00:13:00.000Z

Prelit Christmas Trees

A Prelit Christmas Tree Can Save Your Sanity

By Philip McDonald
A prelit artificial Christmas tree can be the savior of your holiday season, with all you have to do at this festive time of year from attending office Christmas parties, buying the perfect Christmas gifts for each member of the family to planning your family christmas party, owning a prelit artificial Christmas tree can save you time and your sanity.

Of course, the greatest thing about getting an artificial Christmas tree is that you'll also save money. Not to mention an Artificial Christmas Tree is less likely to catch on fire. Unlike a fresh tree, an artificial Christmas tree is perfectly symmetrical, and this is an important point for some decorators. This is one more reason why the artificial Christmas tree is preferred. The best part of purchasing an artificial Christmas tree is that the height isn't guessed, it is dead on, is another reason why some people like the artificial Christmas tree. This artificial Christmas tree is advantageous as it makes transportation and replacement very easy.

The best time to order an artificial Christmas tree is about 6 weeks before the Christmas season actually begins. An artificial Christmas tree is not a fire hazard because they are usually made of fire retardant material. A prelit artificial Christmas tree is the perfect solution for anyone who wants to avoid a fight with an evergreen at any cost. The big fat round artificial Christmas tree is out and the slim artificial tree is in. And today's artificial Christmas tree is made to look just like a natural tree. One of the biggest pros to having an artificial Christmas tree is this convenience. An artificial Christmas tree is an investment that you'll want to protect so make sure that you pick a stand that can support it.

A prelit artificial Christmas tree is very convenient. A custom made artificial Christmas tree is a useful, beautiful gift for a senior citizen, a December wedding, birthday or wedding anniversary. Buying an artificial Christmas tree is similar to purchasing a real one. An artificial Christmas tree is a lifetime investment, rather than a one time cost that comes around every year. Choosing between a natural and an artificial Christmas tree is first and foremost a matter of personal taste, space and budget. An aluminum artificial Christmas tree is great if you're after a retro-look. One of the big disadvantages of having an artificial Christmas tree is that they don't have the Christmas Tree smell; however the advantages of the artificial Christmas tree can offset the lack of smell of the natural tree. One way to solve the lack of smell situation is to purchase pine air fresheners and strategically place them around the room in which you have your artificial Christmas tree.

Another advantage of your artificial prelit Christmas tree is storage, it can be protected in plastic storage boxes that stack atop one another in a corner of the basement. An artificial Christmas tree is cheaper and lasts longer. When buying your prelit artificial Christmas tree make sure it is certified fire resistant. Another case for the artificial Christmas tree is that you can buy a prelit artificial tree or even an artificial tree with fiber optic lighting. Whether or not to use an artificial Christmas tree can be a hotly debated topic in your household during the holidays.

To lengthen the life of the bulbs use extra household extension cords to plug in each separate section of your prelit artificial Christmas tree. This year, I am investing in a prelit artificial Christmas tree to save my sanity. Prelit Christmas trees are a great choice, especially when you're pushed for time during the busy holiday season. After struggling with wires and outlets for a couple of hours I decided that it was time for me to invest in a prelit artificial Christmas tree. Of course, when you do get a Prelit Artificial Christmas Tree, you should take a great bit of care in picking it. A prelit Christmas tree instantly brings festive cheer to your home. Unlike the natural Christmas tree, the prelit artificial Christmas tree doesn't require extra work once you have it put up.

The only question remaining now is, which artificial Christmas tree is right for you? Well only you can answer that, but keep the following in mind, your budget and the size of the space in which you are going to erect your artificial Christmas tree.

With artificial Christmas trees coming in so many sizes and lighting capabilities from fiber optic lit to traditional lit it should be easy for you to find one that fits your taste and expectations.

Philip McDonald maintains [http://christmas-alert.blogspot.com/]christmas-alert.blogspot.com This content is provided by Philip McDonald and may be use in its entirety without links removed.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_McDonald http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Prelit-Christmas-Tree-Can-Save-Your-Sanity&id=357804

A Christmas Story

2008-05-02T03:41:00.000Z

Christmas Music

2008-04-27T08:57:00.000Z

Christmas Music

Choosing The Right Music For Christmas

By Sukhjeet Kaur
In our multi-cultural societies today the run up to Christmas is experienced in many different ways. The commercial version pioneered by Coca Cola's magazine advertisements which established the red suited Santa Claus image, washes over us all through the TV advertisements and the decorations in the High Streets and shopping Malls. They built on and reinforced the Victorian version of Christmas celebrations which was dramatised by Charles Dickens in 'A Christmas Carol' which established many of the associated food and garland rituals in the public imagination - and helped Coca Cola promote their winter beverage sales. Much of this is accompanied by 'seasonal' music in the form of carols and hymns - often coral arrangements but sometimes instrumental - especially brass bands and the dreaded sentimental Christmas pop songs.

Music is often a subtle way of getting under the radar and evoking emotional responses from our subconscious. The commercial focus on Christmas seeks to convert these feelings into purchases - sometimes in crude direct appeals to consume but often in a more indirect atmospheric ways. While the committed Christians concentrate on re-telling the Christmas story through as many media as possible, including music - using the Advent season to recharge their spiritual batteries and encourage others to join them. Their tunes and sometimes even the words are often hijacked by those who wish to evoke a warm hearted relaxed atmosphere for the sale of their particular goods.

Much of this activity assumes a common Christian heritage and must strike those who do not share that background very oddly, not to mention the truly seasonal issues for those in the Southern Hemisphere who celebrate Christmas in midsummer rather than the deep mid winter. There is also the rival celebration of New Year which is a predominantly secular affair with a very limited musical repertoire - mostly of Scottish origin for some reason and this eclipses Christmas in many countries. Christians adopted the pagan Winter Solstice celebrations as part of their missionary progress but those ties were loosened by the reformation and the French, American and Russian Revolutions amongst others.

The seasonal hit at Download2MP3.com is Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite with its Sugar Plum Fairy which fits neatly into the Victorian Christmas story telling context. While Debussy's Children's Corner with its 'The Snow is Dancing' (Northern Hemisphere Christmas/Mid Winter associations) is another favourite and forms the backbone of our Children's Classics Collection which includes several of our shorter and lower priced recordings. Other beneficiaries include our instrumental versions of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah and Gounod's Ave Maria
Recordings like these are an ideal way to personalize those iPod or MP3 player gifts for a few dollars more - perhaps introducing children to the classics in an accessible, amusing and memorable way.
www.infozabout.com http://www.Christmas.infozabout.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sukhjeet_Kaur http://EzineArticles.com/?Choosing-The-Right-Music-For-Christmas&id=110583

Homemade Christmas Gifts

2008-04-25T20:25:00.000Z

Homemade Christmas Gifts

Homemade Christmas Gifts

By Eric Morris

Buying gifts for the holidays has become more of a chore than an expression of love and joy. Products that we purchase generally come right off the assembly line with little thought involved. We may give someone a gift that they already have – or a gift that someone else is giving as well. It’s time to go back to the old days when people made gifts to give at Christmas time. A homemade gift truly exemplifies the spirit of Christmas and shows how much you care.

Think about what you like to do in the way of hobbies. Is baking your forte? If so, bake to your heart’s content; put your goods in a gift-wrapped box, and you have a wonderful gift sure to please its recipients. If you like to knit, hats, scarves, slippers, etc. all make fabulous gifts. If you find it hard to be creative, there are kits that you can purchase giving step-by-step instructions to create a homemade piece. They include candles, pottery, stained glass ornaments, embroidery and scented soaps. Perhaps woodworking is your hobby. Who wouldn’t appreciate a homemade hat rack, knick- knack shelf or bookcase?

Let your children be creative as well. There are hundreds of homemade gifts they can create as gifts for the holidays. For older children, potholder kits, beads and paint–by-numbers are fun and easy to do. For younger children, a framed drawing using finger paint or crayons is truly a special gift.

Keep the true meaning of giving during the holidays alive and well. This Christmas make your gifts – you can bet they will be cherished throughout the coming years. [http://www.i-ChristmasGifts.com]Christmas Gifts provides detailed information about christmas gift ideas, christmas gift baskets, homemade christmas gifts, corporate christmas gifts and more. Christmas Gifts is the sister site of [http://www.i-GiftCards.com]Online Gift Cards.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Morris http://EzineArticles.com/?Homemade-Christmas-Gifts&id=144297

Upside Down Christmas Tree

2008-04-20T14:37:00.000Z

Upside Down Christmas Tree

The Upside Down Christmas Tree

By Sarah Fortune
Yes, it's the Christmas season once more and festive lights, music and Christmas trees are found wherever you go. This year you will notice something a bit different - take a second look at those odd-shaped Christmas trees! That's right - they are positioned upside down and on purpose too. This is not because of some disrespectful religious practice but is actually resurgence in a very old Eastern European practice. Upright Christmas trees do not symbolize the pointing to heaven, as many people think, for the original symbolism of the upside down Christmas tree was to represent Christ hanging on the cross.

Legend goes that an English monk, during the 7th century, first used the shape of a fir tree to explain the Holy Trinity. A few centuries later, fir trees were being hung upside down in European homes as a Christian symbol. Today, in the Krakow area of Poland, a pine tree is hung upside down in the home and decorated with nuts, pears and apples which are then eaten after Christmas Day by the children.

The reason why the Upside Down Christmas tree is becoming so popular is really for more practical purposes. For one, you can place many more presents under it! For small homes, the tree can be hung from the ceiling and is thus completely out of harms way from pets and active kids. Decorating the upside down tree is simpler and you don't need to worry about reaching to put the star on top! Artificial upside down trees could be hung from a bracket on the ceiling, mounted on a wall, placed in a specially weighted base on the floor or just stood upside down on a stand. Go on - surprise your family and friends this Christmas with an Upside Down Christmas Tree.

For more information on the Upside Down Christmas Tree, visit http://www.squidoo.com/upside_down_christmas_tree

Sarah Fortune is a creative homemaker and loves preparing for the Festive season.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Fortune http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Upside-Down-Christmas-Tree&id=785639

Dog And Cat Christmas Gifts

2008-04-16T05:12:00.000Z

Dog And Cat Christmas Gifts

Perfect Dog Gift Ideas for this Christmas

By Carol Stack
The selection of dog gifts available today is anything but dull. There are dog gifts available in almost any shape, form and kind, so you will have no problem in finding a wide variety to choose from.

No pet parent can resist coming home with a gift for their pet any time of the year, especially at Christmas. Dog gifts at Christmas time are a multi-billion dollar industry. Among pet parents some of the most popular dog gifts are chew toys, dog collars and treats.

Do you have someone on your gift-giving list that is hard to shop for? Do they have a dog that is part of the family? Pet parents are some of the easiest people to shop for. Get a gift for their dog or a gift that centers on their dog's breed.

There are all kinds of dog breed products available, including ceramic mugs, doormats, throw blankets, paintings, door stops and stuffed animals. Many pet parents enjoy collecting items that focus on the breed of their own dog.

What do you get a dog for Christmas? Collars are among the favorite gifts. A collar and matching leash make a great gift to give your own dog or for you to give a dog owner.

A fancy dog collar and matching leash are just what you need to say "I love my pampered my pooch". Fancy dog collars make wonderful dog gifts. Many designer dog collars offer matching dog leashes to complete the outfit.

Durable designer dog collars come in several materials including leather, nylon, and fabric - in colors and designs for the finickiest of tastes. Reflective dog collars make a great gift, especially for the dog that is taken for walks after dark.

Another great Christmas gift item for your own dog or for a friend's dog is gourmet dog treats. They are made with whole ingredients and no artificial preservatives.

There are gourmet dog treats made with all natural high quality human grade ingredients. The result is healthy, tasty dog treats for every special dog.

Dog gift baskets are another popular gift idea. Filled with tasty treats and a toy or two, gift baskets are a great choice for the dog owner on your Christmas gift list, or for your own dog. From dainty delights to hearty munchies, you can find dog gift baskets filled with easily digestible, preservative-free, wholesome and delicious treats.

A handy and practical gift for the owner of a small dog is a dog tote bag. There are dog tote bags with wheels and tote bags that look like purses. These are very nice to have for trips to the vet, to take on walks in case little legs get tired, or to take on trips.

Perhaps your dog would enjoy a throw blanket or throw pillow. You can personalize it with the dog's name if you choose, and could get a blanket with a picture of the dog's breed.

Today's selection of dog toys and dog gifts is impressive. With the huge selection of dog toys, treats, dog totes and beds, there is no shortage of possible gifts to give your pet or your dog-owning friend. These gifts are all available at many local pet shops or you can search for them on the internet.

Carol Stack enjoys writing articles, especially about dogs. She lives with her husband, three children, and several dogs and cats in the United States. Carol and her daughter Christy are working on a web site at http://www.christysdogportal.com where you can get more information about [http://care.christysdogportal.com]dog care, dog training, and selecting the best [http://breeds.christysdogportal.com]dog breed for your lifestyle.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_Stack http://EzineArticles.com/?Perfect-Dog-Gift-Ideas-for-this-Christmas&id=368088

Silent Night

2008-04-13T10:03:00.000Z

Christmas Home Decor

2008-04-09T22:55:00.000Z

Christmas Home Decor

Christmas Tablecloth

Dress up a bright red or green tablecloth by sewing little golden or silver bells to the hem. Everyone will enjoy the occasional jingles at the table as they brush against the cloth.

Another idea for a special Christmas tablecloth is to make a sparkling net overlay. Use one of your own tablecloths that is a good size cover for the table and cut a piece of plain white netting to the same size. Applique it with large red felt poinsettias, with sequins pasted on for some added sparkle. Then use it to cover the cloth underneath which can still be used for other occasions.

You could make a bright holiday runner to contrast with your usual tablecloth. Edge the runner with gold rick-rack and decorate it with Christmas motifs.

A “wrapped” Christmas table is easy to achieve by taking two strips of extra-wide satin ribbon and running them across the table to resemble a gift. Tie a large flat bow in one corner.

Mistletoe

2008-04-08T23:45:00.000Z

Mistletoe

Victorian Kissing-Balls

These were very popular in fine homes in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Men were at liberty to claim a kiss from any girl “casually” standing beneath the ball, plucking a mistletoe berry for each forfeit. When all the berries are gone, the kissing stops.

To make a Kissing-Ball, tie two hoops of wire or wood together to make a globe shape. Decorate it by lavishly twining it with ribbons, tinsel and evergreens such as ivy, then hang a cluster of mistletoe in the centre.

Fruits and nuts may be threaded on bright streamers and dangled from the Kissing-Ball. The ambitious may like to wire a miniature crib scene in the centre to represent the Nativity. Hang the Kissing-Ball in the centre of your living or dining room, or in the main entrance to your home…

Christmas Tree Decorations

2008-04-06T10:22:00.000Z

Christmas Tree Decorations

Scented Christmas Tree Sachets

Sachets filled with herbs and spices look pretty hanging on your Christmas Tree. They also make everything smell fresh and airy. In folklore, rosemary stands for remembrance and cedar for strength of feeling. These two make ideal fillings for you sachet.

Firstly decide on a shape, you may like to use a heart, diamond, round or mini tree shape.

• Cut out two sides from a pretty piece of fabric, such as bright gingham. (Scraps of shot silk or bits of antique brocade can be made up into exquisite sachets.)

• Sew up the edges of the fabric leaving an opening.

• Turn so the stitched edging is on the inside.

• Pad with light stuffing (quilt batting is ideal).

• Place a spoonful of scented potpourri mixture inside the padding and sew that up.

• Stitch up the top and decorate with ribbon or silken cord to make a loop to hang the sachet by.

Potpourri Filling

• 30g (1 oz) Rosemary, crushed

• 15g (½oz) Cinnamon sticks, crushed

• 30g (1 oz) Cedar shavings

• 30g (1 oz) Whole Cloves

• 1 tbsp Orris root powder

• Few drops oil of cedar or patchouli

Christmas Stockings

2008-04-01T08:31:00.000Z

Christmas Stockings

Christmas Stockings

Now where did this tradition start? Well, it is said to have originated when “St Nicholas” provided dowries for three single girls. He is said to have thrown three pouches of gold down the chimney and they fell into the stockings handing in front of the fire to dry.

Making a Christmas Stocking

Simple and cheerful Christmas stockings can be made from bright, colourful pieces of felt. It is easy to sew of glue and, because the pieces do not need hemming, children can cut out allsorts of different shapes. They can make their stockings and decorate with small pieces of felt cut into shapes of hearts, stars, leaves, circles or faces. Glitter can be added for extra effect.

Make a paper pattern for the stocking shape first and use this to cut out two pieces of the shape from the large pieces of felt. Stitch a strip of contrasting felt to the top edges of the stocking and decorate one or both sides before sewing the two sides together. Sew or glue a loop to the top through which you can thread a brass or plastic curtain ring.

Tip: The stocking does not have to be turned inside out – it looks great right side out, particularly if you pink the exposed seam edge.

Christmas Decorations

2008-03-31T10:53:00.000Z

Christmas Decorations

Christmas Decorations - Paper Birds

In Sweden, a decorative paper bird is traditionally suspended over the dining table to bring peace to the household in the coming year.

Collect together cardboard and tissue paper. Cut the body of a bird from the cardboard. Make two small slits, one near the “tail” about 1.5mm long and one a little wider in the centre where the wings will go. Cut strips of tissue approximately 10cm x 22cm (4in x 9in) and fold, to and fro, in 1.5cm pleats. Staple or stitch in the centre, then work through slits and secure with tiny patches of sticky tape. Fan out the pleats of tail and wings, then run a loop through the top of the bird’s body.

Make a selection of smaller birds and hang them on your Christmas tree. Different pastel colours look effective, or maybe you prefer silver or gold birds…

Christmas Tree Decorations

2008-03-26T11:43:00.000Z

Christmas Tree Decorations

Macaroni Tree Ornaments

Pasta comes in all sorts of odd shapes and sizes. Buy a wide variety and use food colouring or spray paint to dye them all sorts of different shades.

Get your child involved by having them thread the pasta on string and they will become cherished personal tree decorations.

Older children can make more elaborate macaroni ornaments. Dip the pieces in hot water to soften and then shape them; they could experiment with making goblins and fairies, using elbow macaroni for arms and legs. Let the macaroni ornaments dry, then paint them with bright nail polish or use a gold or silver spray paint…

Christmas Gift Ideas

2008-03-24T12:44:00.000Z

Christmas Gift Ideas

Perfect Dog Gift Ideas for this Christmas

by Carol Stack
The selection of dog gifts available today is anything but dull. There are dog gifts available in almost any shape, form and kind, so you will have no problem in finding a wide variety to choose from.

No pet parent can resist coming home with a gift for their pet any time of the year, especially at Christmas. Dog gifts at Christmas time are a multi-billion dollar industry. Among pet parents some of the most popular dog gifts are chew toys, dog collars and treats.

Do you have someone on your gift-giving list that is hard to shop for? Do they have a dog that is part of the family? Pet parents are some of the easiest people to shop for. Get a gift for their dog or a gift that centers on their dog's breed.

There are all kinds of dog breed products available, including ceramic mugs, doormats, throw blankets, paintings, door stops and stuffed animals. Many pet parents enjoy collecting items that focus on the breed of their own dog.

What do you get a dog for Christmas? Collars are among the favorite gifts. A collar and matching leash make a great gift to give your own dog or for you to give a dog owner.

A fancy dog collar and matching leash are just what you need to say "I love my pampered my pooch". Fancy dog collars make wonderful dog gifts. Many designer dog collars offer matching dog leashes to complete the outfit.

Durable designer dog collars come in several materials including leather, nylon, and fabric - in colors and designs for the finickiest of tastes. Reflective dog collars make a great gift, especially for the dog that is taken for walks after dark.

Another great Christmas gift item for your own dog or for a friend's dog is gourmet dog treats. They are made with whole ingredients and no artificial preservatives.

There are gourmet dog treats made with all natural high quality human grade ingredients. The result is healthy, tasty dog treats for every special dog.

Dog gift baskets are another popular gift idea. Filled with tasty treats and a toy or two, gift baskets are a great choice for the dog owner on your Christmas gift list, or for your own dog. From dainty delights to hearty munchies, you can find dog gift baskets filled with easily digestible, preservative-free, wholesome and delicious treats.

A handy and practical gift for the owner of a small dog is a dog tote bag. There are dog tote bags with wheels and tote bags that look like purses. These are very nice to have for trips to the vet, to take on walks in case little legs get tired, or to take on trips.

Perhaps your dog would enjoy a throw blanket or throw pillow. You can personalize it with the dog's name if you choose, and could get a blanket with a picture of the dog's breed.

Today's selection of dog toys and dog gifts is impressive. With the huge selection of dog toys, treats, dog totes and beds, there is no shortage of possible gifts to give your pet or your dog-owning friend. These gifts are all available at many local pet shops or you can search for them on the internet.

Carol Stack enjoys writing articles, especially about dogs. She lives with her husband, three children, and several dogs and cats in the United States. Carol and her daughter Christy are working on a web site at http://www.christysdogportal.com where you can get more information about dog care, dog training, and selecting the best dog breed for your lifestyle.
Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com

Christmas Gifts

2008-03-20T12:08:00.000Z

Christmas Gifts

Christmas Gifts for the Happy Season

by Mira Lash
A gift is something that makes (or should make) the receiver happy. Christmas is a season for joy and happiness and Christmas gifts enhance the festive spirit.

The Significance of Christmas Gifts
The practice of giving Christmas gifts follow a long established social practice of exchanging gifts to indicate love, friendship and other sentiments of a positive nature. You might reward children for their good behavior, cement social relationships, or just wish to make the gift recipient happy.

For Christmas, gifts could have other connotations. Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ. Bible speaks of Christ being born in a manger surrounded by farm animals. The Star of Bethlehem guided the Three Wise Men to Jesus. The Wise Men made gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the child Jesus. The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus itself is seen as a gift to humankind, to save them from eternal damnation for their sins.

Christmas gifts thus have significance in many ways.

Limoges and Christmas Gifts
Limoges is a city and commune in France, which had achieved fame for superior porcelain products in the 19th century itself.

Porcelain is an ideal material for producing gift items. Porcelain can be shaped into desired shapes, and the shape could then be made permanent through firing in kilns at 1000 plus degrees Celsius. The material has a classy finish that could be enhanced through painting with enamel, for example. The overall result is that appropriate porcelain items could please almost any receiver, which is a primary aim of giving gifts.

Small porcelain figurines, or trinket boxes shaped into such figurines, would be ideal Christmas gifts. There are Limoges porcelain trinket boxes that come in the shapes of Baby Jesus, Angel, Farm Animals, the Three Wise Men, Mary and Joseph. There are also Nativity sets that include all the above figurines, recreating the birth of Christ in a manger with the Star of Bethlehem leading the Three Wise Men to the scene.

Displaying the Nativity scene is also a tradition associated with Christmas. The Limoges Nativity sets could thus help comply with this tradition and be ideal Christmas gifts.
Then there are Bibles, in different colors, Camel, Cow and Donkey, a Praying Girl, a Blue King, Choir Boy and Choir Girl, to list other related Limoges boxes.

There is even a Limoges porcelain box that is shaped like a traditional Christmas gift that is wrapped and tied in typical wrapping paper. The wrapping effect is created by painting the shapes, while the tying effect, with knots and all, is simulated by shaping the porcelain.

Limoges Porcelain Boxes Are Collectibles
You need not worry that you would be giving a gift that everybody else has thought of. These Limoges porcelain figurines are collectible items, the more the better. They are also ideal for re-gifting by the receiver even if exact duplicates happen to be received by the person. Porcelain retains its new look, never getting stained.

Limoges porcelain figurines and boxes are thus excellent Christmas gifts.

Mira Lash deals with Limoges Boxes, Limoges Porcelain Boxes, porcelain figurines Imported from France.
Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com

Christmas Gifts

2008-03-17T11:50:00.000Z

Christmas Gifts

New Christmas Board Game Hot in the UK

A new board game Eternity II bagged a single winner a cash prize of $2m (£992,000). The game was invented by a former aide to Margaret Thatcher, Christopher Monckton.

The UK's biggest toy retailer, Woolworths, forecasts Eternity II will be one of the hottest toys this Christmas.

Other toys expected to be hot list at Christmas are a realistic talking parrot; the revived Transformers robots, kids favourites since the 1980's and back at the top again by the recently released film; And new characters from a new BBC show, In The Night Garden (from the makers of Teletubbies).

Christmas Vacations

2008-03-10T11:09:00.000Z

Christmas Vacations

Christmas Vacations

Increasingly, families are taking vacations away from home. For many people home is the best place to enjoy Christmas, but some seek a new and different way to spend their Christmas vacation.

It really can be a nice way to enjoy Christmas in other ways than the traditional home gathering. As with any decision, there are pros and cons as to where you would most enjoy spending your next Christmas vacation.

Celebrating Christmas the traditional way, where you wither travel to family member’s house or they to yours and stay for a few to several days if they live in a different city. Certainly, spending time with loved ones that may only visit once a year is a greatly important part of Christmas to many people., but it is also a lot of work. Whether you are hosting or visiting, there is much to do in order to prepare for such a group celebration.

Try something different! Instead of spending hours and hours planning and shopping, cleaning and decorating, consider taking a vacation. Christmas vacations can be just as fun as a regular vacation, except that if you plan things right you can avoid the rush and crunch at the airports. This tends to fall on certain key days before and after Christmas, so if you can stagger your travel dates somewhat, which will be easier since you do not have to synchronize with extended family members.

Why not go skiing. A Christmas vacation ski trip can be a perfect way to celebrate Christmas with your significant other, your immediate family or even yourself. This is a great time to stay at a ski resort, as many people will be at home celebrating Christmas and you will have greater access to services and slopes. Many ski resorts will bring Christmas tress or a Menorah, as well as personalized Christmas stockings to your room during a Christmas vacation stay.

Many hotels and resorts also have their own special holiday festivities and traditions during winter. There is a legendary New Year’s Ball at Badrutt’s Place Hotel in St. Moritz. In Round Hill in Jamaica hotel staff dress up in Santa Claus suits and serve eggnog on the beach.

Want something more exciting and exotic? Take a Christmas vacation in Prague. The official Christmas meal in Prague is carp preceded by a fish soup. With its fairy tale gothic towers and cobble stoned streets, Prague is an idyllic place to spend Christmas.
For a truly Dickensian Christmas, fly to London for parties, champagne, roast goose, twinkling lights and cold weather. A great place for a delightful Christmas Eve dinner is Gordon Ramsay’s. They also serve a Christmas luncheon. Be sure to make reservations for either gathering.

IF you don’t want to do or see anything related to traditional Christmas celebrations, how about a trip to Beijing? Instead of not-celebrating Christmas with movies and ordering Chinese takeout, why not go for the real deal? There are beautiful hotels just off Tianamen Square that start around $238.

If you love Santa Claus and all things Christmas, consider a vacation to Finnish Lapland. This Province of Finland is just north of the Arctic Circle, and is home to Santa Claus Village, the Santa Park, and Santa’s Post Office. There are sleigh rides, Northern Lights, and pleasant bed-and-breakfasts that start at $120.

Deon Melchior is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit ArticleClick.com. Article Click is a free content article directory. This means that as a publisher you may reprint the articles that are included in our site, as long as the article is unedited and the author box is included with it's live hyperlinks.

Christmas Gift Ideas

2008-03-07T00:49:00.000Z

Christmas Gift Ideas

Take A Break From Tradition - Unique Gifts You Can Afford

by Bill Duff
Finding unique gifts for family and friends can be a challenge for even the most seasoned shopper. Throw in a dash of holiday madness, mass broadcast advertising and several pounds of flyers in your mailbox, and your head might be full of this year’s newest must-have, but not particularly unique gifts. To make an impression, however, toss aside the traditional gift ideas that everyone will be giving and receiving and focus on finding unique gifts that reflect the interests and personality of your gift recipient.

When looking for ideas for unique gifts, think about the person who will be receiving your present. What does he or she like to do for hobbies? Do you know his favorite color or her taste in music or clothing? What does this person need? Is he or she facing any major transitions in the immediate future? Creating an informal profile will help you come up with unique gifts to suit each person on your list.

For example, if you are searching for unique gifts for your wife, take a look in her closet. What colors and styles do you see there? Perhaps you could borrow an outfit or two and take them to a jeweller as inspiration for a piece of custom jewellery like a set of one-of-a-kind earrings made to match her favorite dress. Talk about unique gifts!

A new college student might appreciate unique gifts centered on a school theme, such as a gift certificate to a local furniture or book store, a compilation of his or her favorite songs or perhaps a collage of family photographs or a painting of a loved pet to help decorate a dorm room.

Depending on what you choose, unique gifts don’t have to be pricy gifts. Some of the most cherished and unique gifts are those that are handmade. Consider some of the following:

Unique gifts you can make:

• Scrapbooks – these can be as playful or as elegant as your imagination, and are a great way to store and present photos.
• Ornaments – delightful ornaments for Christmas and other occasions can be crafted with only a minimum of resources. Use common materials such as beads, wire and glue to create lovely and memorable pieces.
• Clothing & accessories – if you can sew, knit, or crochet, the possibilities for unique gifts are endless: using simple patterns, beginners can make hats, scarves, mittens, handbags, skirts, jackets and more.
• Stories, songs and artwork – if you’re a gifted writer, musician or artist it would be a shame not to turn your talents into unique gifts that family members and friends are sure to cherish, so be creative!

If you aren’t the hands-on type, you can also purchase unique gifts throughout the year. Keep others in mind as you browse through craft markets, auction sales or artisans’ fairs, and if you find something wonderful, tuck it away until the next birthday, Christmas, anniversary or other event. Your thoughtfulness will be appreciated, and everyone will be wondering how just you find such perfect and unique gifts.

2Shop offers 100% genuine brands at heavily reduced prices. For our range of unique gifts and unique gift ideas check out our store today.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Christmas Presents

2008-03-01T07:52:00.000Z

Christmas Presents

How To Find The Best Christmas Gifts For Family And Friends Without Losing Your Sanity

by Bill Duff
Depending on one’s perspective, choosing appropriate Christmas gifts can either be a joyful exercise or an avoid-it-until-the-last-possible-minute disaster. Kudos to those who handle buying Christmas gifts with ease: your finesse is to be applauded. For the more wretched shoppers who can use a bit of help, here are some tips to make finding great Christmas gifts a little bit easier:

• Make a list – there’s no shame in writing down names and ideas before you hit the stores. Even Santa needs a list to keep track of Christmas gifts! It’s a good idea to shop for Christmas gifts for immediate family and close friends first. Once you have all the must-buy-for people stroked off your list, you can concentrate on others people like neighbors. Having a list will also help you avoid unintentionally buying two Christmas gifts for the same person, and if you’re working with a limited budget, seeing a written record of everyone you want to shop for gives you an opportunity to trim the list to a more manageable size.

• Shop early – yes, shopping carts grow bigger and more difficult to handle and shoppers desperately combing store shelves for Christmas gifts get even crankier and more unruly as the big day approaches. Bypass the crowds by shopping earlier in the year. Whether you’re touring a summertime farmers’ market or just hanging out at the mall while the kids catch a movie, keep your eyes peeled for possible Christmas gifts you can buy early and have wrapped and ready to go before the first Christmas flyers hit your mailbox. If you’re really savvy, and you know someone who loves Christmas, take in the Christmas-themed merchandise sales in early January to find inexpensive ornaments, glassware and other goodies that make great Christmas gifts for those who sing Jingle Bells all year long.

• Go online – the World Wide Web is a Mecca for shoppers of all types and you’re guaranteed to find super ideas for Christmas gifts for family and friends without ever having to leave your home! Better yet, if you’re a klutz with tape, many online retailers will wrap and ship Christmas gifts to either you or your intended recipient for very little money. The selection of goods that can be found online is incredible, so don’t be afraid to try something new when searching for Christmas gifts this year.

• Budget – for a budget to be useful, you have to stick to it. Think about how much you want to spend on Christmas gifts before you shop, and don’t despair if you can’t afford a lot. Christmas gifts don’t have to be expensive to be appreciated. In fact, inexpensive handmade Christmas gifts are often the most cherished items under the tree. Consider crafting your own Christmas gifts: family photo scrapbooks, homemade mustards and gourmet salad dressings, or knitted scarves are all sure to be loved, and require only a little money and a bit of effort to create.

Buying Christmas gifts doesn’t have to be difficult. With a little planning and thought, you, too, can have friends and family saying, “Oh, you shouldn’t have!” as they open their Christmas gifts on Christmas morning.

2Shop offers 100% genuine brands at heavily reduced prices. For our range of Christmas Gifts and Christmas Gift Ideas check out our store today.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Christmas Quotes

2008-02-27T21:20:00.000Z

Christmas Quotes

Christmas Quotes – A Dickensian Christmas

Christmas time! That man must be a misanthrope indeed, in whose breast something like a jovial feeling is not roused - in whose mind some pleasant associations are not awakened - by the recurrence of Christmas. There are people who will tell you that Christmas is not to them what it used to be; that each succeeding Christmas has found some cherished hope, or happy prospect, of the year before, dimmed or passed away; that the present only serves to remind them of reduced circumstances and straitened incomes - of the feasts they once bestowed on hollow friends, and of the cold looks that meet them now, in adversity and misfortune. Never heed such dismal reminiscences. There are few men who have lived long enough in the world, who cannot call up such thoughts any day in the year. Then do not select the merriest of the three hundred and sixty-five for your doleful recollections, but draw your chair nearer the blazing fire - fill the glass and send round the song - and if your room be smaller than it was a dozen years ago, or if your glass be filled with reeking punch, instead of sparkling wine, put a good face on the matter, and empty it off-hand, and fill another, and troll off the old ditty you used to sing, and thank God it's no worse...

Who can be insensible to the outpourings of good feeling, and the honest interchange of affectionate attachment which abound at this season of the year? A Christmas family-party! We know nothing in nature more delightful! There seems a magic in the very name of Christmas. Petty jealousies and discords are forgotten; social feeling are awakened, in bosoms to which they have long been strangers; father and son, or brother and sister, who have met and passed with averted gaze, or a look of cold recognition, for months before, proffer and return the cordial embrace, and bury their past animosities in their present happiness. Kindly hearts that have yearned towards each other but have been withheld by false notions of pride and self-dignity, are again reunited, and all is kindness and benevolence! Would that Christmas lasted the whole year through (as it ought) and that the prejudices and passions which deform our better nature were never called into action among those to whom they should ever be strangers!

Charles Dickens 1836

Christmas Topiary

2008-02-26T02:59:00.000Z

Christmas Topiary

Christmas Topiary - Holly

Holly is one of the symbols of Christmas. Christmas trees, wreaths and other seasonal decorations made out of greenery ornament our homes, streets and churches at Christmas. It ornaments Christmas cards, wreaths, wrapping paper and other Christmas decorations.

The word 'holly' comes from an old English word 'holen'. Holly has been a favourite winter plant for many years. Ancient Romans gave sprigs of holly as gifts. The Druids believed that good spirits lived in its branches and would take sprigs into their homes for luck and prosperity.

Holly was also believed to keep evil spirits away, repelling witches, lightning and poison. The tradition in Scandinavia was for unmarried women to tie holly to their beds to avoid being turned into witches. English folk beliefs included that holly offered protection against witches and that holly bestowed good luck on men.

Early Christians considered that holly represented Moses' burning bush, with the berries representing the flames. Holly was also connected to the Crown of Thorns Christ was made to wear at his crucifixion.

Legends say that the berries were originally white, turned red by Christ's blood. Pagans believed holly to be male; Christians considered holly a symbol of the Virgin Mary's love for God.

Christmas History

2008-02-24T21:17:00.000Z

Christmas History

History of the Christmas Pudding

The Christmas pudding has its origins in a dish enjoyed in the Middle Ages by both the rich and the poor. It was a spicy porridge called ‘frumenty’.

To start making ‘frumenty’ you boil wheat in water until it turns into a soft porridge or gruel. Add milk, currants and other dried fruit. Then add the yolks of eggs and mix in, together with spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon. Then cook into a kind of stiff pudding. In some Scandanavian countries, like Sweden and Norway, porridge is still part of a traditional Christmas meal.

The pudding was often called ‘plum pottage’, meaning a mixture as thick as porridge. Later it was sometimes called ‘hackin’ pudding’ as the ingredients were chopped, or hacked before going into the pudding. Later it became the familiar ‘plum pudding’. In the 19th Century, instead of fresh plums, it only contained prunes, they later gave way to dried fruit, especially currants, sultanas and raisins.

The habit of placing a coin or trinket in the Christmas Pudding is very similar to the Saturnalia custom of hiding a dried bean in the Christmas Pudding. Their custom was that the person who found it, even if he were a slave, was elected master of the revels, a king for the holidays with special priviledges.

With so many puddings coming ready-made from supermarkets now, the tradition of silver charms and new coins being put in the mixture is almost lost. It is one of the oldest and fun of the Christmas traditions. Whoever found the charm in their piece of Christmas pudding would have good luck in the year to come.

Christmas Recipes

2008-02-18T22:19:00.000Z

Christmas Recipes

One of my favourite Christmas Recipes is

Iced Christmas Pudding

Ingredients
1 tbsp glace cherries, roughly chopped
1 tbsp sultanas, roughly chopped
2 tbsp glace pineapple, roughly chopped
1 tbsp currants
2 tbsp brandy or kirsch
1 pint vanilla ice cream

Method
Place the fruits in a bowl, add the brandy or kirsch and allow to marinate for 2 hours. Place the ice cream in a bowl and beat, to soften. Add the marinated fruits and marinade and mix well. Turn the mixture into a 900ml/1/2 pint foil basin. Freeze.
Unwrap when frozen and place on a serving dish and thaw at room temperature for 15 minutes. Cover the pudding completely with rosettes of whipped cream and decorate with small pieces of glace cherries and angelica.

Serves 4 to 6.

I hope that you like the Iced Christmas Pudding too. It may not be so appealing in the Northern Hemisphere for your winter...

Christmas Candles

2008-02-14T04:16:00.000Z

Christmas Candles

Christmas Candles for the Christmas Tree

The earliest lights on Christmas trees were candles or ‘tapers’. Beeswax was expensive so the candles were made of tallow instead. Tallow comes from animal fat, usually sheep that has been melted down and allowed to harden. When tallow burns it splutters, making quite a lot of smoke and it has a distinctly sheepish smell.

The legend is that Martin Luther, the founder of the Protestant Church in Germany in the sixteenth century was the first person to put candles on a Christmas tree. One winter evening he was walking home, looked up and saw the stars twinkling through the branches of the fir trees. This gave him the insight and when he arrived home he set up a tree and decorated it with candles.

The earliest candles were tied or wired around the branches, as you can imagine, this was not particularly safe and became a real danger. The tradition was to cut the tree on Christmas Eve so they would have been fresher and less likely to ignite and people knew of the dangers and would keep a bucket of water on hand.

In December 1867 Charles Kirchhof, an American, first patented the counterweighted candleholder. The weights were often clay and painted in festive colours; sometimes they were moulded into figures or shapes. Unfortunately, the weight would sometimes cause the candle to slide off the branch.

In 1879 another American inventor created a candle-holder with a spring clip that could be attached to a tree. This invention became a great success and may still be seen today. These candle holders were safer than the counterweighted type because they stayed in place on the branches, although they did not keep the candle absolutely straight. Their design was enhanced by an adjustable ball-and- socket joint that could be rotated to keep the candle straight and upright. Most early holders featured metal discs to catch wax and keep it from dripping onto other ornaments or the floor.

One of the last patents was granted in 1920. This version features a fluted design and brilliant finish. The holder grips the base of the candle to keep it upright and stable. A ball and socket mechanism makes it easy to adjust the candle. Wax catcher keeps drips off the carpet. It has an adjustable spring clamp to grasp the branch and is easy to reposition.

Have you ever wondered why Victorian candles are spiral?
When the wax on a candle near the flame melts, it drips down the side of the candle. On a smooth candle, if it is leaning slightly it may run down on to the floor. With a spiral candle, even if it is tilting a little, the wax will run down the grooves without dripping…

Christmas Decorations

2008-02-11T00:13:00.000Z

Christmas Decorations

Where Did Tinsel Come From?

In my research on tinsel I have come up with some interesting findings. When searching on the internet I found that tinsel dates back to 1610 in Germany. Further research has found that it dates back to France in the 1500's. At that time there was a 'secret' way of making tinsel that was called lamè. In those days it was not used on Christmas trees but as decoration on soldiers' uniforms.

Lamè was made by pulling copper wire through very small holes until the wire became as fine as human hair. It was then flattened by heavy rollers. Despite every attempt by French lamè-makers to preserve their secret, it soon leaked out to Germany, where it was used as the Christmas tree decoration we know as tinsel.

Tinsel was used in Germany around 1610. Machines were invented that pulled silver out into wafer thin strips that was used as tinsel. The silver was found to tarnish with candle light. Attempts were made to use a mixture of lead and tin, this was heavy and tended to break under its own weight so was not so practical.
In 1878 artisans from Nuremberg made thin strips of silver foil that could be strewn over the tree's branches like icicles. They called them engelshaar, which means 'angels' hair’; we know them today as tinsel.

Right up to the twentieth century silver was still in use as tinsel…

Christmas History

2008-02-08T10:58:00.000Z

Christmas History

Christmas History

The crib or manger first appeared in medieval Italy. The invention of the crèche has been attributed to St Francis of Assisi and dated to 1224. The nativity scene became an integral part of Christmas over much of Europe.

In England and Scotland in the early or mid-seventeenth century the ruling Puritans attacked any holidays not dedicated to the Sabbath and denounced Christmas celebrations as pagan. In 1642 Oliver Cromwell tried to do away with Christmas so Christmas was driven underground. Charles II reign brought more liberal times and Christmas lived although in a quieter fashion and normally celebrated in the home.

Around 1836 interest in Christmas blossomed in England and America. Charles Dickens wrote his story ‘A Christmas Carol’ starting in early October 1843 and finished at the end of November. The book was published on 17 December 1843 and immediately sold out. The writing of this book helped revive the traditional idea of Christmas and throughout the Victorian area this Christmas revival grew…

Christmas History

2008-01-31T05:53:00.000Z

Christmas History

Various religions held celebrations around the same time of year as the solstice.

Persians built fires on December 25th to worship their God of Light, Mithras; Egyptians honoured Isis, mother of their Sun God; Jews lit candles to celebrate Hanukkah, known as the Feast of Lights.

Hanukkah is not celebrating the solstice, although it is a custom using fire and held around the solstice time. In mid-December ancient Romans celebrated Saturnalia with feasting, revelry, gift-giving, lit candles and decorating using berries and evergreens.

There was a moratorium on was and personal enmity, and reversal of ranks and suspension of many workaday restrictions. As this time, masters waited on their servants. Some parts of these practices, called misrule, survive in certain parts of England to this day.

By the advent of the Middle Ages in Europe, Christmas became established as a great sacred holiday. The twelfth to the sixteenth centuries were the peak of celebration in homes as well as churches.

In the 1800s, glass ornaments were first made in the Lauscha, Germany. This cottage industry involved the entire family. Generally, men did the glassblowing, women did the silvering and the children helped to paint and finish them. These beautiful new glass ornaments began to replace edible decorations.

Christmas

2008-01-28T10:59:00.000Z

Christmas

Christmas is a combination of various practices started over many years and many countries. The celebrations include traditions handed down through the generations. Interpretations of these are molded and blended with influences from the commercialism that has become such a big part of our Christmas festivities. So now each family celebrates Christmas in their own way.

Many Christmas practices originated from historic observances of the winter solstice which occurs a few days before Christmas. One of the key elements in celebrations of the winter solstice is fire. Fire is the earthly manifestation of the sun, the source of light, warmth and life-giving energy. Evergreens such as mistletoe, holly and ivy, being evergreen, were a sign against the winter and promised the return of the sun. People celebrated the solstice for the turn to longer days. Many cultures developed these solstice celebrations. People liked getting together in warm houses decked with evergreens to toast each other, feast, sing and to look forward hopefully to better, longer days.

These celebrations started in the northern hemisphere, obviously, as at the same time the southern hemisphere is looking to celebrate the longest day and a change to heading to the winter season...

Christmas Carol

2008-01-27T13:13:00.000Z

Christmas Carol

"Away in a Manger"

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
The little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there.

Christmas Carols

2008-01-21T07:04:00.000Z

Christmas Carols

The word 'carol' comes from the ancient Greek choros, meaning 'dancing in a circle' and from the old French word 'carole' which means 'a song to accompany dancing'.

Originally the carol was not particularly associated with Christmas, and in fact, was not even a religious song. It may well have started as a song and dance performed at festivals - non-religious celebrations like the coming of spring, midsummer, or harvest time. And it is the association with joyful celebration that links this original carol to our modern Christmas carol.

In early medieval times the Church did not encourage the singing of carols, believing that Christmas should be celebrated in a solemn way. Carols, in any case, were linked to festivals that were a bit too close to the old pagan religions. From about 1400 the Church relaxed its attitude a little, and in the fifteenth century there was a great increase in the writing and singing of Christmas carols.

There were two great ages of carol writing, the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries. It is believed the oldest carol is 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel'. The words date from the twelfth century written in Latin, not translated into English until the early nineteenth century.

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

2008-01-09T05:08:00.000Z

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

The original poem written in 1939 goes like this...

Where most reindeers' noses are brownish and tiny,
Poor Rudolph's was red, very large and quite shiny.

In daylight it dazzled, the picture shows that!
At night-time it glowed, like the eyes of a cat.

And putting dirt on it just made it look muddy,
Oh boy was he mad when they nick-named him 'Ruddy'!

Although he was lonesome, he always was good...
Obeying his parents, as good reindeer should!

That's why on this day, Rudolph almost felt playful-
He hoped that from Santa soon driving his sleighful

Of presents and candy and dollies and toys
For good little animals, good girls and boys.

He'd get just as much...and this is what pleased him...
As the happier, handsomer reindeer who teased him.

So as night, and a fog, hid the world like a hood,
He went to bed hopeful, he knew he'd been good...

Christmas Music

2008-01-04T11:11:00.000Z

Christmas Music

You may well wonder where Christmas music started, well the word 'wait' comes from waiter, an old French word meaning 'to watch'. The waits were originally the town's watchmen, what we would call security guards. They were paid by the town council to walk through the town and make sure that everything was safely locked up at night. As few families could afford clocks, the watchmen would also call out the time.

In many towns little groups of watchmen formed musical bands. At Christmas time the waits would go through the town playing carols and other Christmas music. Sometimes they would be invited into a wealthy home to be given good Christmas cheer by the way of cakes, ale, mince pies and if they were lucky, money.

Waits bands were once quite common in England but in the 19th Century the police force became much stronger and many towns no longer needed their waits as watchmen. Gradually the bands died out and disappeared. The old custom of group carol singing was not entirely lost and often churches sent carol singers around the houses to collect for charity. This is a tradition that is still alive today.

Christmas Cactus

2008-01-01T18:33:00.000Z

Christmas Cactus

The Christmas Cacti are frequently discussed by gardeners. There are different views as to the care and maintenance of the Christmas Cacti and some gardeners face frustration in getting them to rebloom. Part of this is because the Christmas Cacti are originally forest cacti growing at elevations of between 1000 metres (3280ft) and 1700 metres (5575ft) above sea level in the mountains south-east of Brazil, South America. Christmas cacti will actually keep their blossoms longer in cooler temperatures than the other cacti we are more used to.

The Christmas Cacti are best kept in a well-lit location away from drafts from sources of hot air. Avoid direct sunlight as this can burn the leaves and stunt growth of the cacti. Drafts can cause the flower buds to drop from the plant before they have opened. The plants will wilt when under drought stress. When the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, water the plant thoroughly.

Christmas Cactus are a popular gift.

Christmas Tree

2007-12-28T02:44:00.000Z

Christmas Tree

Unusual Facts about a Christmas Tree...

The great Christmas tree that stands in London's Trafalgar Square each year comes from Norway. It is a gift from the people of Oslo, Norway to the City of Westminster. This tradition started in 1947 and is a thank you for help during World War II.

In King's Canyon National Park, California is a massive sequoia known as 'The General Grant Tree'. It is over 4000 years old and stands over 267 feet (90 metres) high. This tree was made the official national Christmas Tree of America in 1925 and every year a Christmas service is held at its base.

Since 1931 America has celebrated Christmas around a tree at the Rockefeller Center, New York. That year was during the Great Depression and workers placed the tree there when they queued up to collect their wages. There have been various different activities around this Christmas tree ever since. In 1933 there were 700 bulbs on the tree and in 1991 the number had grown to 25300 bulbs.

The tallest cut tree according to the Guinness Book of Records was put up at the Northgate Shopping Centre, Seattle, Washington in December 1950. It was a Douglas fir and stood 221 feet (67 meters) tall. The tallest tree ever measured was also a Douglas fir. In 1902 it was measured in Canada and stood 415 feet (126.5 meters) high.

Christmas Trees

2007-12-26T07:40:00.000Z

Christmas Trees

Points to remember when buying a Christmas Tree are:

1. The fresher the tree, the better and safer it will be.

2. Needles are best if they are a nice and shiny green. They should not be browned
or mottled green. Needles should not be able to be pulled off easily. If a lot of
needles fall off when the tree is moved, the tree is already dead.

3. Branches should be able to be bent easily without snapping off.

4. The trunk should be a little sticky with sap.

Christmas Cookies

2007-12-26T02:04:00.000Z

Christmas Cookies

Christmas Cookies - Well Almost - Mince Pies

Christmas mince pies became popular in the Victorian age. Their history is longer than that though. In the 12th century knights returning from Crusades in the Holy Land introduced to Europe many Middle Eastern ways of cooking. Some of these dishes mixed sweet tastes with savoury and recipes of minced meat cooked with fruit and sweet spices were popular. People used sugars and spices to preserve meat in these times because they did not have access to preservatives or refrigeration. Fresh and dried fruit was less expensive and easier to obtain than sugar or honey so people used these to help preserve their meats. In medieval times some people had a blunt sense of humour and referred to the mince pies as 'coffins'.

In Elizabethan times mince pies were still a mixture of meat and fruit. They were called shrid pies because they contained shredded meat and suet (hard fat found in kidneys of cows or sheep). The meat and suet were mixed with dried fruit like raisins and currants. The tradition was to add three spices, - cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg - these stood for the three gifts given to Jesus by the Wise men. The mixture was then baked in a pastry case, not a round one like the mince pies of today, but oblong to represent Jesus' crib. To complete the pie, a little pastry baby often decorated the lid.

The Puritans showed an opposition to the mincemeat pie. Some say they felt the manger-shaped pies scandalised the sense of religious decorum. Others say they looked at the eating of mince pies as gluttony which did not fit the season of the Nativity.

Over the years less meat and more fruit and sugar were included in the Christmas mincemeat pies. More common pie recipes omit meat and add additional fruits including a larger range of fruit. Mincemeat is best made some time in advance to allow the flavours to blend and mature. It was once thought lucky to eat a mince pie on each of the twelve days of Christmas. Each pie would be eaten in a different house in order to bring good luck to the household and the eater for the next twelve months.

Christmas Cards

2007-12-23T11:49:00.000Z

Christmas Cards

Christmas Cards - Linocut Cards

Children love making sets of personalised cards in different colours. This type will take a bit of extra effort although the results are worth it. Choose some suitable Christmas designs for a start off, you may like to add some other of your favourite designs.

Draw the designs of your choice with a soft pencil onto the smooth top part of a piece of craft lino about 12 by 18cm (5 x 7in). Remember that your prints are a mirror version of the design. Cut around the edges of the design carefully using a craft knife or scalpel, to a depth of about 0.5cm (1/4in). Always direct the cutting tool away from you to avoid accidents.

Put a little water-based acrylic paint on a sheet of glass and roll it with a rubber roller until it makes a 'smacking' noise. Then roll an even layer of ink over the lino surface. Place a piece of paper on top. Rub the back of this with the back of a spoon or another clean roller to make sure the paint is evenly distributed over the surface. Peel off the print and dry before mounting onto the front of your card. Once proficient, you may prefer to print directly onto your card and some great effects can be achieved by overwriting designs...

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

2007-12-22T12:22:00.000Z

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

The idea that Santa Claus drives a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer is usually credited to Clement C. Moore (1779-1863). In 1822 Moore wrote a poem for children entitled 'A Visit from Saint Nicholas'. The poem was officially published in 1844 and was the main reason for the establishment of Santa Claus in the United States. In the poem Moore refers to Santa's toy filled sleigh being pulled by eight flying reindeer. He named the reindeer Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder (meaning 'thunder' in Dutch) and Blitzen (meaning 'lightning' in German).

In 1939 Robert L May, a department store worker at Montgomery Ward, wrote a poem entitled 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'. The store printed the poem and distributed it to children as a sales gimmick. In 1949 a friend of May's named Jonny Marks composed a song based on the story told in the poem. The song with the same name as the poem 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' was instantly popular and remains so today. Many recordings of the song have been made. His story has been told in 25 different languages at least and has even been made into a network television special...

Lyrics to the Song
You know Dasher and Dancer
And Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid
And Donder and Blitzen,
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows

All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
"Rudolph, with your nose so bright,
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then all the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,
You'll go down in history!

Yule Ball

2007-12-21T08:12:00.000Z

Yule Ball

The custom of having a Yule Ball has existed in different forms over many years. From the eighteenth century the Southern states of the United States held balls during the Christmas Season. The Texans celebrated with Christmas Eve Balls. The English celebrated the Twelfth Night of Christmas with a Costume or Mask Ball until the nineteenth century. More commonly now people celebrate New Years Eve with a Yule Ball.

Recently the 'Yule Ball' was made popular in the Harry Potter book and movie 'The Goblet of Fire', Chapter 23 is 'The Yule Ball'. The main event of this chapter, as indicated by the title, is the Yule Ball itself. During the ball, Harry learns things about several of his close friends, including Hagrid, Hermione and Ron. In the film, the Ball was presented as sort of a "wizard prom", with the dress robes of men resembling tuxedos.

The Yule Ball is know for Ron Weasley's row with Hermione Granger which divulged Ron's jealousy towards Krum, and showing his attraction to Hermione. Fans refer to the event as 'the Yule Brawl'.

Christmas Carols

2007-12-18T09:11:00.000Z

12 Days Of Christmas

2007-12-17T02:53:00.000Z

12 Days Of Christmas

For many centuries the Twelve days of Christmas stood at the heart of the European Christmas season. The Twelve Days of Christmas is also referred to as 'Christmastide'. The Twelve days begin on December 25 and last until the Twelfth Night (January 5th).

As Christianity became firmly rooted in Europe, political leaders declared the Twelve Days to be legal holidays. Near the end of the ninth century King Alfred the Great of England (849-899) mandated that his subjects observe the Twelve days of Christmas, outlawing all legal proceedings, work and fighting during that time. Norway established the Christian observance of the festival in the middle of the 10th century.

The most festive meal was often served on the Twelfth Night or on Epiphany (6 January).

There were numerous superstitions around the Twelve Days of Christmas. One was that Christmas decorations were to only be displayed over the twelve days and that bad luck would come to those who left them up longer. Another view was that Christmas decorations could be left up as long as they were removed by Candlemas (2 February)...

Christmas Decor

2007-12-16T06:29:00.000Z

Christmas Decor

Christmas Tablecloth

Dress up a bright red or green tablecloth by sewing little golden or silver bells to the hem. Everyone will enjoy the occasional jingles at the table as they brush against the cloth.

Another idea for a special Christmas tablecloth is to make a sparkling net overlay. Use one of your own tablecloths that is a good size cover for the table and cut a piece of plain white netting to the same size. Applique it with large red felt poinsettias, with sequins pasted on for some added sparkle. Then use it to cover the cloth underneath which can still be used for other occasions.

You could make a bright holiday runner to contrast with your usual tablecloth. Edge the runner with gold rick-rack and decorate it with Christmas motifs.

A “wrapped” Christmas table is easy to achieve by taking two strips of extra-wide satin ribbon and running them across the table to resemble a gift. Tie a large flat bow in one corner.

Christmas Tree Decorations

2007-12-15T05:58:00.000Z

Christmas Tree Decorations

Scented Christmas Tree Sachets

Sachets filled with herbs and spices look pretty hanging on your Christmas Tree. They also make everything smell fresh and airy. In folklore, rosemary stands for remembrance and cedar for strength of feeling. These two make ideal fillings for you sachet.

Firstly decide on a shape, you may like to use a heart, diamond, round or mini tree shape.

Cut out two sides from a pretty piece of fabric, such as bright gingham. (Scraps of shot silk or bits of antique brocade can be made up into exquisite sachets.)

Sew up the edges of the fabric leaving an opening.

Turn so the stitched edging is on the inside.

Pad with light stuffing (quilt batting is ideal).

Place a spoonful of scented potpourri mixture inside the padding and sew that up.

Stitch up the top and decorate with ribbon or silken cord to make a loop to hang the sachet by.

Potpourri Filling

30g (1 oz) Rosemary, crushed

15g (½oz) Cinnamon sticks, crushed

30g (1 oz) Cedar shavings

30g (1 oz) Whole Cloves

1 tbsp Orris root powder

Few drops oil of cedar or patchouli

Christmas Decorating

2007-12-13T04:38:00.000Z

Christmas Decorating

Victorian Kissing-Balls

These were very popular in fine homes in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Men were at liberty to claim a kiss from any girl “casually” standing beneath the ball, plucking a mistletoe berry for each forfeit. When all the berries are gone, the kissing stops.

To make a Kissing-Ball, tie two hoops of wire or wood together to make a globe shape. Decorate it by lavishly twining it with ribbons, tinsel and evergreens such as ivy, then hang a cluster of mistletoe in the centre.

Fruits and nuts may be threaded on bright streamers and dangled from the Kissing-Ball. The ambitious may like to wire a miniature crib scene in the centre to represent the Nativity. Hang the Kissing-Ball in the centre of your living or dining room, or in the main entrance to your home…

Christmas Stockings

2007-12-11T04:20:00.000Z

Christmas Stockings

Now where did this tradition start? Well, it is said to have originated when “St Nicholas” provided dowries for three single girls. He is said to have thrown three pouches of gold down the chimney and they fell into the stockings handing in front of the fire to dry.

Making a Christmas Stocking

Simple and cheerful Christmas stockings can be made from bright, colourful pieces of felt. It is easy to sew of glue and, because the pieces do not need hemming, children can cut out allsorts of different shapes. They can make their stockings and decorate with small pieces of felt cut into shapes of hearts, stars, leaves, circles or faces. Glitter can be added for extra effect.

Make a paper pattern for the stocking shape first and use this to cut out two pieces of the shape from the large pieces of felt. Stitch a strip of contrasting felt to the top edges of the stocking and decorate one or both sides before sewing the two sides together. Sew or glue a loop to the top through which you can thread a brass or plastic curtain ring.

Tip: The stocking does not have to be turned inside out – it looks great right side out, particularly if you pink the exposed seam edge.

Christmas Decorations

2007-12-09T01:38:00.000Z

Christmas Decorations

Paper Birds

In Sweden, a decorative paper bird is traditionally suspended over the dining table to bring peace to the household in the coming year.

Collect together cardboard and tissue paper. Cut the body of a bird from the cardboard. Make two small slits, one near the “tail” about 1.5mm long and one a little wider in the centre where the wings will go. Cut strips of tissue approximately 10cm x 22cm (4in x 9in) and fold, to and fro, in 1.5cm pleats. Staple or stitch in the centre, then work through slits and secure with tiny patches of sticky tape. Fan out the pleats of tail and wings, then run a loop through the top of the bird’s body.

Make a selection of smaller birds and hang them on your Christmas tree. Different pastel colours look effective, or maybe you prefer silver or gold birds…

Blue Christmas

2007-12-08T11:21:00.000Z

Blue Christmas

One reference to 'Blue Christmas' is that for some Christmas is a lonely, depressing, "blue" time. Christmas can be 'blue' for those people who are grieving the loss of loved ones or other losses or for those who are all alone when others are partying and gathering with family members. Some pastors concerned for those who find it difficult to "celebrate" at this time of year have developed various "Blue Christmas Services" for these people.

The constant refrain on radio and television, in shopping malls and churches, about the happiness of the Christmas Season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many people of what they have lost or have never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation, the gut wrenching loss of a child, the loneliness of no longer having a beloved spouse to share each day, the loss of a dear family pet - all these can contribute to a feeling of being alone, of 'feeling blue' in the midst of the society around us which seems bent on 'being happy' and 'celebrating'. It's at such times that we need to make the space and take the time to acknowledge our sadness and concern. The churches offer the 'Blue Christmas' service to help these people and offer them some empathy.

Then there is the song 'Blue Christmas'...

I'll have a Blue Christmas without you
I'll be so blue thinking about you
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won't mean a thing if you're not here with me.

I'll have a Blue Christmas that's certain
And when that blue heartache starts hurtin'
You'll be doin' all right, with your Christmas of white
But I'll have a blue, blue Christmas.

Christmas Tree Decorations

2007-12-06T21:12:00.000Z

Mistletoe

2007-12-06T10:20:00.000Z

Mistletoe

The mistletoe was a symbol of goodwill and love, an omen of long life, fertility and happiness for those who kissed beneath it. Named 'All-heal', mistletoe was accepted by the Church who proclaimed it a symbol of Christ, the divine healer.

The Druids called mistletoe 'omnia sanitatem' which means 'that which heals all'. They used it as a medicine. It was also believed to heal hearts and it was believed that if two enemies met under a tree bearing mistletoe, they were not allowed to fight. Anyone entering a home decorated with sprigs of mistletoe was entitled to receive shelter and protection. Some people thought that mistletoe possessed magical powers and others thought of in a negative vein.

Mistletoe, also known as viscum album, is an evergreen that bears berries and is thought of in association to Christmas. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe appears to be of English origin. It is not until the eighteenth century that some writers suggest that kissing under the mistletoe was common place. There were contradictory beliefs about the custom of kissing under the mistletoe.

Today, many people enhance their Christmas festivities with mischievous sprigs of mistletoe. The custom is found in Britain, France or countries where the British have settled, such as Commonwealth countries, including Canada and it is also found in the United States...

Xmas

2007-12-02T20:03:00.000Z

Xmas

X is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ - 'Xristos'. To the early Christians, most of whom spoke and wrote Greek, the word signified 'Christ's Mass'.

As the centuries passed, however, fewer and fewer people understood ancient Greek. They thought the 'X' had some pagan meaning and that the word 'Xmas' showed disrespect. Some people dislike the informality of this abbreviation and the fact that it removes the word "Christ" from the word Christmas. Others find it less objectionable. They point out that the "X"stands for the Greek letter "X" (chi), which is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ.

The occasionally felt belief that the "X" represents the cross Christ was crucified on has no basis in fact. The St Andrew's Cross is X-shaped, but Christ's cross was probably shaped like a T or a †. Indeed, X-as-chi was associated with Christ long before X-as-cross could be, since the cross as a Christian symbol developed later. (The Greek letter Chi Χ stood for "Christ").

Hanukah Christmas Cards

2007-12-01T21:29:00.000Z

Hanukah Christmas Cards

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival and falls during the darkest days of December. It is not the Jewish Christmas but many American Jewish families have adapted certain Christmas customs, for example cards and gifts. The Hanukkah holidays fall on different days between 25th November and 26th December each year. It is a movable feast similar to the Christian Easter. It is a celebration of light. The Hebrew word Hanukkah means "dedication". The Hanukkah holiday is known as the 'Feast of Dedication' or the 'Feast of Light'.

The Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days in memory of the Maccabeean uprising and the Temple miracle in Jerusalem. One candle is lit on each night of Hanukkah and there is a special ninth candle called the shammas, or servant light - the one light able to kindle many.

The old custom of distributing Hanukkah gelt (coins) to children has extended to gifts. Often Jewish parents give their children a present for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. In addition, some people also exchange Hanukkah Cards with friends and family.

Christmas Cards

2007-11-28T03:39:00.000Z

Christmas Cards

The English are credited with the invention of the Christmas card and with making it popular during the Victorian era. By the 1860's an entire industry had grown up around the design and production of Christmas Cards in England. The industry spread to other countries quickly and more and more people embraced the Christmas card. The practice of sending Christmas Greeting Cards became one of the Christmas season's most popular customs.

New Year's cards date back to the early years of European printing. The oldest known New Year's card was printed in 1466. They never became very popular. In the late eighteenth century the development of lithographic printing supported an increase in the production of New Year's cards. Valentines cards were already popular in the early nineteenth century when the very first Christmas cards were printed and probably had more influence on the Christmas Cards than the New Year's cards did. Prior to the Christmas cards, some people did send Christmas or New Year's letters.

The first Christmas card was designed by Englishman JC Horsley (1817-1903) in 1843 from the research that I can find. The front of the card shows three separate images. About 1000 copies of the card were printed and they were sold for one shilling each.

Christmas Bells

2007-11-27T07:13:00.000Z

Christmas Bells

Bells have been associated with Christmas for many years. In parts of England there is a tradition of "ringing in" Christmas. In Scandinavia bells are rung to announce the end of work and the beginning of the festive season. The sound of bells has been associated with gift-bearers arriving. St Nicholas has been known to carry a hand bell on his visits. In Italy the Befans rings a bell as she descends the chimneys. In Hungary angel bells are rung to announce that children's presents have been delivered.

People will easily associate with carols like 'Jingle Bells', 'Silver Bells' and 'I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day'. The bell shape is linked strongly with Christmas and regularly seen on Christmas Cards, Christmas wrap and Christmas tree decorations...

White Christmas

2007-11-25T21:56:00.000Z

White Christmas

'White Christmas' is a 1940 Irving Berlin tune, it is the biggest-selling Christmas song. It has sold over 100,000,000 copies. Bing Crosby sang 'White Christmas' and this version sold over 31,000,000 copies. 'White Christmas' won the Oscar award for best song of 1942...

When people think of 'White Christmas', most would probably think of the well known song that Bing Crosby made the most popular version of.

Back in 1914 a new type of service was introduced into some Protestant Sunday Schools. The 'White Christmas' service encouraged children to bring gifts for the needy. To this day the tradition continues. People collect canned food, toys and money to help the poor enjoy Christmas a little more. The custom was to wrap the gifts in white paper and some churches referred to the service as 'White Gift Sunday'...

Christmas Carol

2007-11-25T11:10:00.000Z

Christmas Carol

O Come All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him,Born the King of Angles!

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Sing choirs of angles;
Sing in exultation
Sing all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God –
In the highest.

Chorus

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be the glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in the flesh appearing.

Chorus.

A Christmas Story

2007-11-18T11:07:00.000Z

A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story is a comedy movie directed in 1983 by Bob Clark. The story is about a boys wish for an air rifle. He wants a genuine Red Ryder Carbine Action Two Hundred Shot Lightning Loader Range Model air rifle with a shock proof high adventure combination trail compass and sundial set in the stock of the rifle.

The film stars Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker, Darren McGavin as his father and Melinda Dillon as his mother. Jean Shepherd based the story on a chapter in his book 'In God We Trust - All Others pay Cash' and is the narrator in the movie...

Silent Night

2007-11-13T06:59:00.000Z

Christmas Quotes

2007-09-08T08:47:00.000Z

Christmas Topiary

2007-08-08T23:00:00.000Z

Christmas Topiary

Christmas Topiary - Holly

Holly is one of the symbols of Christmas. Christmas trees, wreaths and other seasonal decorations made out of greenery ornament our homes, streets and churches at Christmas. It ornaments Christmas cards, wreaths, wrapping paper and other Christmas decorations.

The word 'holly' comes from an old English word 'holen'. Holly has been a favourite winter plant for many years. Ancient Romans gave sprigs of holly as gifts. The Druids believed that good spirits lived in its branches and would take sprigs into their homes for luck and prosperity. Holly was also believed to keep evil spirits away, repelling witches, lightning and poison. The tradition in Scandinavia was for unmarried women to tie holly to their beds to avoid being turned into witches. English folk beliefs included that holly offered protection against witches and that holly bestowed good luck on men.

Early Christians considered that holly represented Moses' burning bush, with the berries representing the flames. Holly was also connected to the Crown of Thorns Christ was made to wear at his crucifixion. Legends say that the berries were originally white, turned red by Christ's blood. Pagans believed holly to be male; Christians considered holly a symbol of the Virgin Mary's love for God.

Christmas History

2007-08-07T05:35:00.000Z

Christmas History

History of the Christmas Pudding

The Christmas pudding has its origins in a dish enjoyed in the Middle Ages by both the rich and the poor. It was a spicy porridge called ‘frumenty’.

To start making ‘frumenty’ you boil wheat in water until it turns into a soft porridge or gruel. Add milk, currants and other dried fruit. Then add the yolks of eggs and mix in, together with spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon. Then cook into a kind of stiff pudding. In some Scandanavian countries, like Sweden and Norway, porridge is still part of a traditional Christmas meal.

The pudding was often called ‘plum pottage’, meaning a mixture as thick as porridge. Later it was sometimes called ‘hackin’ pudding’ as the ingredients were chopped, or hacked before going into the pudding. Later it became the familiar ‘plum pudding’. In the 19th Century, instead of fresh plums, it only contained prunes, they later gave way to dried fruit, especially currants, sultanas and raisins.

The habit of placing a coin or trinket in the Christmas Pudding is very similar to the Saturnalia custom of hiding a dried bean in the Christmas Pudding. Their custom was that the person who found it, even if he were a slave, was elected master of the revels, a king for the holidays with special priviledges.

With so many puddings coming ready-made from supermarkets now, the tradition of silver charms and new coins being put in the mixture is almost lost. It is one of the oldest and fun of the Christmas traditions. Whoever found the charm in their piece of Christmas pudding would have good luck in the year to come.

Christmas Recipes

2007-08-06T01:45:00.000Z

Christmas Recipes

One of my favourite

Christmas Recipes is Iced Christmas Pudding

Ingredients
1 tbsp glace cherries, roughly chopped
1 tbsp sultanas, roughly chopped
2 tbsp glace pineapple, roughly chopped
1 tbsp currants
2 tbsp brandy or kirsch
1 pint vanilla ice cream

Method
Place the fruits in a bowl, add the brandy or kirsch and allow to marinate for 2 hours.
Place the ice cream in a bowl and beat, to soften.
Add the marinated fruits and marinade and mix well.
Turn the mixture into a 900ml/1/2 pint foil basin.
Freeze. Unwrap when frozen and place on a serving dish and thaw at room temperature for 15 minutes.
Cover the pudding completely with rosettes of whipped cream and decorate with small pieces of glace cherries and angelica.

Serves 4 to 6.

I hope that you like the Iced Christmas Pudding too. It may not be so appealing in the Northern Hemisphere for your winter...

Christmas Candles

2007-08-03T21:19:00.000Z

Christmas Decorations

2007-08-02T02:22:00.000Z

Christmas Decorations

Where Did Tinsel Come From?

In my research on tinsel I have come up with some interesting findings. When searching on the internet I found that tinsel dates back to 1610 in Germany. Further research has found that it dates back to France in the 1500's. At that time there was a 'secret' way of making tinsel that was called lamè. In those days it was not used on Christmas trees but as decoration on soldiers' uniforms.

Lamè was made by pulling copper wire through very small holes until the wire became as fine as human hair. It was then flattened by heavy rollers. Despite every attempt by French lamè-makers to preserve their secret, it soon leaked out to Germany, where it was used as the Christmas tree decoration we know as tinsel.

Tinsel was used in Germany around 1610. Machines were invented that pulled silver out into wafer thin strips that was used as tinsel. The silver was found to tarnish with candle light. Attempts were made to use a mixture of lead and tin, this was heavy and tended to break under its own weight so was not so practical.
In 1878 artisans from Nuremberg made thin strips of silver foil that could be strewn over the tree's branches like icicles. They called them engelshaar, which means 'angels' hair’; we know them today as tinsel.

Right up to the twentieth century silver was still in use as tinsel…

Christmas History

2007-07-29T07:56:00.000Z

Christmas History

The crib or manger first appeared in medieval Italy. The invention of the crèche has been attributed to St Francis of Assisi and dated to 1224. The nativity scene became an integral part of Christmas over much of Europe.

In England and Scotland in the early or mid-seventeenth century the ruling Puritans attacked any holidays not dedicated to the Sabbath and denounced Christmas celebrations as pagan. In 1642 Oliver Cromwell tried to do away with Christmas so Christmas was driven underground. Charles II reign brought more liberal times and Christmas lived although in a quieter fashion and normally celebrated in the home.

Around 1836 interest in Christmas blossomed in England and America. Charles Dickens wrote his story ‘A Christmas Carol’ starting in early October 1843 and finished at the end of November. The book was published on 17 December 1843 and immediately sold out. The writing of this book helped revive the traditional idea of Christmas and throughout the Victorian area this Christmas revival grew…

Christmas Gifts

2007-07-28T04:27:00.000Z

Christmas Gifts

Christmas Gifts for the Happy Season

by Mira Lash
A gift is something that makes (or should make) the receiver happy. Christmas is a season for joy and happiness and Christmas gifts enhance the festive spirit.

The Significance of Christmas Gifts
The practice of giving Christmas gifts follow a long established social practice of exchanging gifts to indicate love, friendship and other sentiments of a positive nature. You might reward children for their good behavior, cement social relationships, or just wish to make the gift recipient happy.
For Christmas, gifts could have other connotations. Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ. Bible speaks of Christ being born in a manger surrounded by farm animals. The Star of Bethlehem guided the Three Wise Men to Jesus. The Wise Men made gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the child Jesus. The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus itself is seen as a gift to humankind, to save them from eternal damnation for their sins.
Christmas gifts thus have significance in many ways.

Limoges and Christmas Gifts
Limoges is a city and commune in France, which had achieved fame for superior porcelain products in the 19th century itself.
Porcelain is an ideal material for producing gift items. Porcelain can be shaped into desired shapes, and the shape could then be made permanent through firing in kilns at 1000 plus degrees Celsius. The material has a classy finish that could be enhanced through painting with enamel, for example. The overall result is that appropriate porcelain items could please almost any receiver, which is a primary aim of giving gifts.
Small porcelain figurines, or trinket boxes shaped into such figurines, would be ideal Christmas gifts. There are Limoges porcelain trinket boxes that come in the shapes of Baby Jesus, Angel, Farm Animals, the Three Wise Men, Mary and Joseph. There are also Nativity sets that include all the above figurines, recreating the birth of Christ in a manger with the Star of Bethlehem leading the Three Wise Men to the scene.
Displaying the Nativity scene is also a tradition associated with Christmas. The Limoges Nativity sets could thus help comply with this tradition and be ideal Christmas gifts.
Then there are Bibles, in different colors, Camel, Cow and Donkey, a Praying Girl, a Blue King, Choir Boy and Choir Girl, to list other related Limoges boxes.
There is even a Limoges porcelain box that is shaped like a traditional Christmas gift that is wrapped and tied in typical wrapping paper. The wrapping effect is created by painting the shapes, while the tying effect, with knots and all, is simulated by shaping the porcelain.

Limoges Porcelain Boxes Are Collectibles
You need not worry that you would be giving a gift that everybody else has thought of. These Limoges porcelain figurines are collectible items, the more the better. They are also ideal for re-gifting by the receiver even if exact duplicates happen to be received by the person. Porcelain retains its new look, never getting stained.
Limoges porcelain figurines and boxes are thus excellent Christmas gifts.

Mira Lash deals with Limoges Boxes, Limoges Porcelain Boxes, porcelain figurines Imported from France.
Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com

Christmas History

2007-07-27T04:19:00.000Z

Christmas History

Various religions held celebrations around the same time of year as the solstice. Persians built fires on December 25th to worship their God of Light, Mithras; Egyptians honoured Isis, mother of their Sun God; Jews lit candles to celebrate Hanukkah, known as the Feast of Lights. Hanukkah is not celebrating the solstice, although it is a custom using fire and held around the solstice time.

In mid-December ancient Romans celebrated Saturnalia with feasting, revelry, gift-giving, lit candles and decorating using berries and evergreens. There was a moratorium on was and personal enmity, and reversal of ranks and suspension of many workaday restrictions. As this time, masters waited on their servants. Some parts of these practices, called misrule, survive in certain parts of England to this day.

By the advent of the Middle Ages in Europe, Christmas became established as a great sacred holiday. The twelfth to the sixteenth centuries were the peak of celebration in homes as well as churches.

In the 1800s, glass ornaments were first made in the Lauscha, Germany. This cottage industry involved the entire family. Generally, men did the glassblowing, women did the silvering and the children helped to paint and finish them. These beautiful new glass ornaments began to replace edible decorations.

Christmas

2007-07-24T04:01:00.000Z

Christmas

Christmas is a combination of various practices started over many years and many countries. The celebrations include traditions handed down through the generations. Interpretations of these are moulded and blended with influences from the commercialism that has become such a big part of our Christmas festivities. So now each family celebrates Christmas in their own way.

Many Christmas practices originated from historic observances of the winter solstice which occurs a few days before Christmas. One of the key elements in celebrations of the winter solstice is fire. Fire is the earthly manifestation of the sun, the source of light, warmth and life-giving energy. Evergreens such as mistletoe, holly and ivy, being evergreen, were a sign against the winter and promised the return of the sun. People celebrated the solstice for the turn to longer days. Many cultures developed these solstice celebrations. People liked getting together in warm houses decked with evergreens to toast each other, feast, sing and to look forward hopefully to better, longer days.

These celebrations started in the northern hemisphere, obviously, as at the same time the southern hemisphere is looking to celebrate the longest day and a change to heading to the winter season...

Christmas Carol

2007-07-22T08:50:00.000Z

Christmas Carols

2007-07-18T04:28:00.000Z

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

2007-07-14T07:05:00.000Z

Christmas Music

2007-07-13T05:09:00.000Z

Christmas Tree

2007-07-12T06:37:00.000Z

Christmas Tree

Christmas Tree Shops to relocate headquarters
Boston Business Journal - 1:43 PM EDT Wednesday, July 11, 2007
by Naomi R. Kooker
Journal staff
Christmas Tree Shops Inc. is moving its headquarters from South Yarmouth, Mass., to Middleborough, Mass., where it owns the distribution and office facility it built in 1996.
A holiday-themed retailer known for its year-round and seasonal bargains of housewares and gift items is moving to consolidate operations. It has leased the 40,000-square-foot headquarters in South Yarmouth since 1982.
It is moving into its 750,000-square-foot Middleborough location at 64 Leona Dr. next summer with plans to expand the office space.
Christmas Tree Shops spokeswoman and Marketing Director Michele Watkins said, "No employee will lose their job because of this."
Watkins would not disclose how many people worked in the South Yarmouth and Middleborough facilities, but said the company will hire more people as it continues to grow and open more stores.
Cape Cod Times archives from 2004 listed 130 employees at the headquarters at the time, according to a Cape Cod Times news report.
Christmas Tree Shops plans to open a store in Foxboro, Mass., this fall; it is opening another store in Delaware this summer.
She did not disclose what the company pays in rent for its South Yarmouth location.
Mill Lane Management Inc. in Yarmouthport, which operates the Christmas Tree Shops headquarters at 261 White Path in South Yarmouth, has not been officially notified by the company, which has 270 days left to the end of its lease year.
In 2003, New Jersey-based Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBY) acquired Christmas Tree Shops Inc., which was started in 1970. The company operates 35 stores in nine states.
Naomi R. Kooker can be reached at nkooker@bizjournals.com.

Christmas Cactus

2007-07-10T23:56:00.000Z

Christmas Tree

2007-07-10T04:50:00.000Z

Christmas Tree

Unusual Facts about a Christmas Tree...

The great Christmas tree that stands in London's Trafalgar Square each year comes from Norway. It is a gift from the people of Oslo, Norway to the City of Westminster. This tradition started in 1947 and is a thank you for help during World War II.

In King's Canyon National Park, California is a massive sequoia known as 'The General Grant Tree'. It is over 4000 years old and stands over 267 feet (90 metres) high. This tree was made the official national Christmas Tree of America in 1925 and every year a Christmas service is held at its base.

Since 1931 America has celebrated Christmas around a tree at the Rockefeller Center, New York. That year was during the Great Depression and workers placed the tree there when they queued up to collect their wages. There have been various different activities around this Christmas tree ever since. In 1933 there were 700 bulbs on the tree and in 1991 the number had grown to 25300 bulbs.

The tallest cut tree according to the Guinness Book of Records was put up at the Northgate Shopping Centre, Seattle, Washington in December 1950. It was a Douglas fir and stood 221 feet (67 meters) tall. The tallest tree ever measured was also a Douglas fir. In 1902 it was measured in Canada and stood 415 feet (126.5 meters) high.

Christmas Trees

2007-07-09T08:00:00.000Z

Christmas Trees

Points to remember when buying a Christmas Tree are:

1. The fresher the tree, the better and safer it will be.
2. Needles are best if they are a nice and shiny green. They should not be browned or mottled green. Needles should not be able to be pulled off easily. If a lot of needles fall off when the tree is moved, the tree is already dead.
3. Branches should be able to be bent easily without snapping off.
4. The trunk should be a little sticky with sap.

Christmas Cookies

2007-07-07T13:38:00.000Z

Christmas Gift Idea

2007-07-06T07:37:00.000Z

Christmas Gift Idea

New Christmas Board Game Expected To Be Hot in the UK

July 2007

A new board game Eternity II will bag a single winner a cash prize of $2m (£992,000). The game was invented by a former aide to Margaret Thatcher, Christopher Monckton.

The UK's biggest toy retailer, Woolworths, forecasts Eternity II will be one of the hottest toys this Christmas.

Other toys expecting to be hot list at Christmas are a realistic talking parrot; the revived Transformers robots, kids favourites since the 1980's and back at the top again by the recently released film; And new characters from a new BBC show, In The Night Garden (from the makers of Teletubbies).

Christmas Cards

2007-07-05T11:52:00.000Z

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

2007-07-04T05:57:00.000Z

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

Lyrics to the Song - Version 2

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (reindeer)
Had a very shiny nose (like a light bulb)
And if you ever saw him (saw him)
You would even say it glows (like a light bulb/flashlight)

All of the other reindeer (reindeer)
Used to laugh and call him names (like Pinocchio)
They never let poor Rudolph (Rudolph)
Join in any reindeer games (like Monopoly) or (like football)

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say (Happy Birthday!), or (Ho-ho-ho!), or (in his underwear!), or (G'day!) - Australian version
"Rudolph, with your nose so bright,
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?" (all right!)

Then all the reindeer loved him (loved him)
As they shouted out with glee: (Yippee!) or (Hooray!)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, (reindeer) You'll go down in history! (like Columbus / Mickey Mouse / George Washington

Christmas Vacations

2007-07-03T05:23:00.000Z

Christmas Vacations

Increasingly, families are taking vacations away from home. For many people home is the best place to enjoy Christmas, but some seek a new and different way to spend their Christmas vacation. It really can be a nice way to enjoy Christmas in other ways than the traditional home gathering. As with any decision, there are pros and cons as to where you would most enjoy spending your next Christmas vacation.

Celebrating Christmas the traditional way, where you wither travel to family member’s house or they to yours and stay for a few to several days if they live in a different city. Certainly, spending time with loved ones that may only visit once a year is a greatly important part of Christmas to many people., but it is also a lot of work. Whether you are hosting or visiting, there is much to do in order to prepare for such a group celebration.

Try something different! Instead of spending hours and hours planning and shopping, cleaning and decorating, consider taking a vacation. Christmas vacations can be just as fun as a regular vacation, except that if you plan things right you can avoid the rush and crunch at the airports. This tends to fall on certain key days before and after Christmas, so if you can stagger your travel dates somewhat, which will be easier since you do not have to synchronize with extended family members.

Why not go skiing. A Christmas vacation ski trip can be a perfect way to celebrate Christmas with your significant other, your immediate family or even yourself. This is a great time to stay at a ski resort, as many people will be at home celebrating Christmas and you will have greater access to services and slopes. Many ski resorts will bring Christmas tress or a Menorah, as well as personalized Christmas stockings to your room during a Christmas vacation stay.

Many hotels and resorts also have their own special holiday festivities and traditions during winter. There is a legendary New Year’s Ball at Badrutt’s Place Hotel in St. Moritz. In Round Hill in Jamaica hotel staff dress up in Santa Claus suits and serve eggnog on the beach.

Want something more exciting and exotic? Take a Christmas vacation in Prague. The official Christmas meal in Prague is carp preceded by a fish soup. With its fairy tale gothic towers and cobble stoned streets, Prague is an idyllic place to spend Christmas.

For a truly Dickensian Christmas, fly to London for parties, champagne, roast goose, twinkling lights and cold weather. A great place for a delightful Christmas Eve dinner is Gordon Ramsay’s. They also serve a Christmas luncheon. Be sure to make reservations for either gathering.

IF you don’t want to do or see anything related to traditional Christmas celebrations, how about a trip to Beijing? Instead of not-celebrating Christmas with movies and ordering Chinese takeout, why not go for the real deal? There are beautiful hotels just off Tianamen Square that start around $238.

If you love Santa Claus and all things Christmas, consider a vacation to Finnish Lapland. This Province of Finland is just north of the Arctic Circle, and is home to Santa Claus Village, the Santa Park, and Santa’s Post Office. There are sleigh rides, Northern Lights, and pleasant bed-and-breakfasts that start at $120.

Deon Melchior is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click.
For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit ArticleClick.com. Article Click is a free content article directory. This means that as a publisher you may reprint the articles that are included in our site, as long as the article is unedited and the author box is included with it's live hyperlinks.

Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer

2007-07-01T08:31:00.000Z

Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer

Lyrics to the Song

You know Dasher and Dancer
And Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid
And Donder and Blitzen,
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows

All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
"Rudolph, with your nose so bright,
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then all the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,
You'll go down in history!

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

2007-06-30T06:35:00.000Z